MRC Charlevoix-Est — Signature Innovation Fund

Who is eligible?

The "Signature Innovation" fund is open to a variety of organizations looking to undertake projects that align with the fund's strategic goals of boosting innovation, economic activity, and collaboration in the MRC de Charlevoix-Est. The following entities are eligible to apply:

• Municipal organizations and Indigenous communities.
• Private and social economy enterprises, excluding financial sector enterprises.
• Cooperatives, excluding those in the financial sector.
• Non-profit organizations.
• Organizations within the educational sector.
• Legal entities wishing to start a business.

Who is not eligible

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their controversial activities or association with non-strategic sectors. It aims to ensure that resources are allocated to projects that align with regional development goals.

• Companies with activities that are of a sexual, religious, or political nature, or that may cause controversy, such as matchmaking agencies, war games, tarot reading, astrology, and personal growth courses.
• Pawnshop businesses.
• Travel agencies, unless they focus on enhancing the tourist offerings of the MRC de Charlevoix-Est.
• Organizations in the physical or mental health field, whether recognized by a professional order or not.
• Childcare facilities and home-based childcare services.
• Real estate management and real estate agents.
• Liberal professions recognized by a professional order, such as lawyers, accountants, architects, notaries, and engineers.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the implementation and success of the project in the MRC of Charlevoix-Est.

• Professional fees, consulting services, and studies, up to a maximum of $150 per hour.
• Pre-startup and startup costs.
• Purchases of goods, equipment, and assets related to the project.
• Marketing, promotion, and advertising activities and expenses.
• Improvements to rental space, renovation, expansion, or construction of a building, including the acquisition of non-residential land or buildings.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is exclusively available for projects to be carried out within a specified geographical area, ensuring that the development goals align with the MRC Charlevoix-Est's strategic objectives.

• MRC de Charlevoix-Est.

Here is additional relevant detail for this grant:

• The aid is structured as a non-repayable financial assistance.
• The maximum aid for a private enterprise or its subsidiaries is $150,000 within a 12-month period.
• A funding agreement, detailing payment conditions and expected project outcomes, must be signed between the beneficiary and the MRC.
• The initial payment is made upon signing the agreement, with subsequent installments based on project milestones and deliverables.
• The final payment requires the submission of a final report and documents specified in the agreement protocol.
• The project must be completed within a timeframe specified in the agreement, but the MRC may reassess commitments if delays occur.
• Specific penalties and obligations exist concerning project communication and acknowledgement of financial assistance.
• The applicant must not have any pending bankruptcy judgments or disputes with the MRC.