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ÉCLO Regional Fund – Stream 1
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Quebec, Canada
Supports Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean businesses in market diversification strategies
Grant and Funding
Expert Advice
Overview
The ÉCLO Regional Fund – Stream 1 supports Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean businesses in diversifying markets and developing export strategies, providing up to 75% of eligible expenses (maximum per company to be confirmed). Eligible activities include structured market development, personalized strategic support, and commercial missions to explore and grow in new markets.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Selling in a new market
Eligible Funding
- Up to 75% of project cost
Timeline
- Open Date : June 30, 2025
- Closing date : September 15, 2025
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Rural or Northern Residents
Activities funded
- Implementation of structured market diversification and expansion strategies.
- Participation in personalized strategic support programs for business growth and export readiness.
- Engagement in commercial missions and trade shows outside Quebec to explore and develop new markets.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 30,750
Participation in New York trade mission for sustainable wood packaging
$ 24,200
Legal and customs support for artisan cheese export expansion
$ 36,000
Strategic support for dairy processor to enter Mexican market
$ 18,375
Market diversification training for boutique cosmetics export expansion
$ 22,350
Training and export support for locally made eco-cleaning supplies
$ 41,250
Development of export strategy for local maple syrup producer
Eligibility
- The company must have its head office and main activities located within one of the MRCs of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.
- The business must have been in operation for at least one year.
- The company must demonstrate a direct negative impact from U.S. tariffs on its business model.
- The proposed project must align with the objectives of the ÉCLO Regional Fund.
- The company must have demonstrated profitability over the past two years (supported by financial statements).
Who is eligible?
- Companies with their head office and main activities located in one of the MRCs of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
Eligible expenses
- Training and professional support fees
- Transportation, accommodation, and registration costs for trade missions and trade shows
- Professional fees for strategic support (legal, customs, logistics, taxation, patents, etc.)
Eligible geographic areas
- Companies headquartered and primarily operating in one of the MRCs (Regional County Municipalities) of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean.
Selection criteria
- Alignment of the project with the objectives of the ÉCLO Regional Fund.
- Score obtained in the pre-diagnostic assessment (according to the established Fund criteria).
How to apply
1
Verify eligibility criteria
- Review eligibility criteria to ensure your company is located within an MRC of Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Verify your business has been active for at least one year and demonstrates a direct negative impact from tariffs
- Prepare recent financial statements showing profitability for the last two years
- Assess if your project aligns with the fund's objectives and selection priorities
2
Submit application and documents
- Access and complete the online application form during the call for projects period
- Gather and submit all required supporting documents, including the completed form and financial statements
- Ensure submission occurs within the specified dates of the application window
3
Application evaluation and pre-diagnosis
- Your application will be reviewed by an evaluation committee
- An export pre-diagnostic will assess your capacity for new markets
- The committee evaluates alignment with the selection criteria of the fund
4
Accept funding agreement
- If successful, you will receive an acceptance letter specifying the financial support conditions
- Sign and return the letter to confirm your acceptance
- This signed letter will serve as the agreement between parties
Additional information
- Only one application per company per call for projects is permitted.
- Applicants must provide financial statements for the past two years to demonstrate profitability.
- The pre-diagnostic evaluation is mandatory before final project submission to the evaluation committee.
- Each cohort in Stream 1 is limited to a maximum of 15 companies per intake period.
