MRC Charlevoix-Est — Signature Innovation Fund

• Application form
• Business plan or project plan
• Financial package and forecasts
• Supporting studies, if applicable
• Board resolution authorizing the application and signatures

Who is eligible?

• Municipal bodies and Indigenous communities
• Private businesses and social economy enterprises
• Cooperatives
• Non-profit organizations
• Education network organizations and legal entities starting a business

Who is not eligible

• Financial-sector private companies and cooperatives
• Organizations listed in the register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts
• Applicants in litigation with the Government of Quebec or in default with SCN or MAMH obligations
• Applicants who failed to respect previous MRC financial assistance obligations in the last two years
• Sexual, religious, political, and other controversial businesses

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees, consulting services, and studies
• Pre-startup and startup costs
• Purchase of goods, equipment, and project-related assets
• Marketing, promotion, and advertising costs
• Facility improvements, renovation, expansion, construction, and land or non-residential building acquisition

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Operating deficits, debt repayment, and working capital replenishment
• Costs not directly related to the project
• Expenses for completed projects or costs incurred before submission
• Loans, loan guarantees, and equity investments
• Recurring expenses and recoverable tax portions

Eligible geographic areas

• MRC of Charlevoix-Est

• Alignment with the Signature Innovation framework
• Promoter qualifications and governance structure
• Quality of the project delivery plan
• Quality of the financing plan
• Technological innovation, local economic benefits, community support, and environmental impact

• Step 1: Eligibility review
  • Meet with an economic development officer of the MRC of Charlevoix-Est.
  • Validate whether the project fits the fund requirements.
• Step 2: Prepare the file
  • Complete the application form.
  • Prepare the business or project plan and financial package.
  • Gather any supporting studies and required corporate documents, if applicable.
• Step 3: Submit the application
  • Send the complete file to the MRC with all required documents.
  • Provide any additional information requested by the MRC.

• Applicants must first meet with an economic development officer to confirm eligibility.
• The MRC reviews the file internally once all required documents are received.
• The steering committee evaluates the project and makes a recommendation to the mayors’ council.
• Approved projects are governed by a financial assistance agreement with payment conditions and reporting obligations.

• Applicants must meet the MRC’s governance and financial reporting requirements.
• An initial meeting with an economic development officer is required to validate project eligibility.
• All approved projects are subject to a financial assistance agreement with the MRC.