Côte-Nord Tourism — EPRTNT 2025-2026 – Festivals and Events

• Completed and signed application form in Excel format
• Programming or draft programming of the upcoming event
• Balance sheet of the most recent event, if available
• Most recent financial statements of the organization, including income‑expense for the event (or equivalent for municipal/Indigenous entities)
• Projected income‑expense budget for the upcoming event and confirmations of funding partners, if available

• The applicant must be a tourism business, municipal entity, Indigenous community/organization, or a grouping of these clienteles.
• The organization must be legally incorporated under Quebec or Canadian law and conduct business in Quebec.
• Eligible organizations must have respected commitments linked to any previous grant from program partners.
• Tourist accommodation operators must comply with applicable laws and regulations and hold a valid registration number.
• Nature and adventure tourism businesses must meet, be working toward, or commit to meeting Aventure Écotourisme Québec Quality‑Safety standards.

Who is eligible?

• For‑profit tourism businesses.
• Non‑profit tourism organizations.
• Tourism cooperatives.
• Municipal entities in the Côte‑Nord region.
• Indigenous communities, nations, and Indigenous tourism organizations or businesses.

Who is not eligible

• Crown corporations and departments or agencies of the governments of Quebec and Canada.
• Applicants listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Businesses that are not compliant with the Office québécois de la langue française francization process.

Eligible expenses

• Administration and programming costs directly related to the event.
• Promotion, marketing and communication expenses.
• Site and facility management fees and costs of products for resale.
• Travel expenses within public service scales, overhead, and promoter salaries and benefits linked to the event.
• Audited sponsorships of goods and services, up to 50% of total eligible costs.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Regular programming of an attraction, trade shows, tourism fairs, conferences, conventions, shows, non‑gourmet fairs and markets, and exhibitions without broader programming.
• Activities and costs not directly related to holding and organizing the event.
• Capital expenditures for equipment acquisition (depreciation) and usual maintenance of assets.
• Working capital, debt service, operating losses, capital losses and buybacks, and financing costs.
• Regulatory compliance and upgrade costs, recoverable taxes, unaudited in‑kind contributions, asset transfers, lobbyist remuneration, cost overruns, legal fees, and purchase of motorized transport not dedicated to visitor experience.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses and organizations carrying on business in Quebec, specifically within the Côte‑Nord tourism region.

• Alignment of the project with EPRTNT 25-27 objectives.
• Structuring impact, including attraction power, scope, spin‑offs, partnerships, job creation and season extension.
• Level of innovation and quality of the concept, products and services.
• Strength of the financial structure, relevance to tourism markets, clientele diversification, competition and marketing strategy.
• Feasibility of the project, including timeline, business plan or study, promoter expertise, and integration of sustainable development principles.

• Step 1: Download Program Documents
  • Access the Festivals and Events category on the Tourisme Côte‑Nord website.
  • Download the explanatory document, application form, and self‑assessment tools.
• Step 2: Complete Self-Assessment and Application
  • Fill out the Self‑Assessment form for the EPRTNT 25‑27 Festivals and Events category.
  • Complete the Application for Financial Assistance form in Excel format.
• Step 3: Gather Required Supporting Documents
  • Compile event programming, financial statements, past event balance sheet, projected budget and partner confirmations, as applicable.
  • Obtain any required OQLF attestation and other certifications (e.g., Indigenous or Aventure Écotourisme Québec, if applicable).
• Step 4: Submit Application by Email
  • Send the completed Excel application form, self‑assessment and all required documents by email to direction.dev@cotenordqc.com by the stated deadline.

• Project submission for 2025-2026 must be emailed to direction.dev@cotenordqc.com by December 15, 2025, with a later deadline to be determined.
• Financial assistance of $100,000 or more to an NPO with more than 100 employees requires an equal access to employment program.
• Organizations with 25 or more employees over a 6‑month period must provide OQLF proof of compliance with francization requirements.
• Sustainable development, including eco-responsible and socially responsible practices, is specifically considered in the assessment.