ESSOR – Component 2 (Chantier productivité)
grant_single|update April 18, 2025
QC, Canada
Boost Quebec business productivity through strategic financial support
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|minCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
Loans and Capital investments
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Retail trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
grant_single|grantors
- Investissement Québec (IQ)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
ESSOR – Component 2 financially supports businesses in Quebec for investment projects focused on productivity, expansion, or technological transition. The program offers repayable contributions, non-repayable contributions, loan guarantees, and equity investments for activities such as the acquisition of equipment, technologies, or the modernization of infrastructure.
grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions
- Offers a repayable contribution as a preferred financial intervention.
- Loan guarantee available, covering up to 70% of the net loss.
- Equity participation may be considered.
- Non-repayable contributions are also possible.
- Management fees of at least 0.5% of the financial assistance amount are required.
- An annual guarantee fee of at least 0.5% of the guaranteed amount is required.
- Additional conditions may apply depending on the project specifics.
grant_single_labels|projects
- Investment projects with at least $100,000 in eligible expenses aimed at increasing production capacity in Quebec through the creation of a new company, establishment of a foreign company in Quebec, or expansion of an existing Quebec-based company.
- Modernization of an existing company already established in Quebec.
- Technological transition projects.
- Acquisition and implementation of digital solutions, which may require the development of a digital diagnostic.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 900,000
Implementing cloud-based business intelligence tools
$ 1,500,000
Expanding local artisanal cheese production facility
$ 2,000,000
Modernizing an eco-friendly clothing manufacturing plant
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- The company must be for-profit or a social economy enterprise.
- It must be registered and operate in Quebec.
- Foreign companies must be registered and commit to conducting activities in Quebec within twelve months of project approval.
- All sectors are eligible except for primary sectors (with exceptions), certain services, mining, quarrying, oil, gas, and other specified sectors.
- For projects related to the acquisition of digital solutions, companies from all sectors are eligible.
- Projects must have at least $100,000 in eligible expenses.
- They must aim at increasing production, modernization, or technological transition.
- There must be a demonstrated potential for productivity increase.
- Projects must begin no later than six months after approval.
- The project implementation must not exceed five years, with a preferred timeline of three years.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- For-profit companies
- Social economy enterprises
- Foreign companies registered in Quebec and committed to operating there within twelve months of project authorization
- All sectors except for those explicitly excluded (e.g., primary sectors, certain industrial and service sectors)
- Projects related to the acquisition and implementation of digital solutions across all sectors
- Seasonal activities on territories like Côte-Nord, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Capitale-Nationale with additional eligibility for primary sectors like commercial fishing, mariculture, and agriculture
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
- Companies in the primary sector (agriculture, forestry, and fishing), with exceptions for greenhouse cultivation, conditioning activities for major projects, and forest exploitation.
- Entities involved in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction.
- Businesses in real estate services and rental and leasing services.
- Companies in construction, excluding those related to productivity increases.
- Public utility services.
- Enterprise and company management services.
- Health care and social assistance services.
- Education services.
- Public administration.
- Finance and insurance sectors.
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation services.
- Telecommunications services.
- Broadcasting services.
- Accommodation and restaurant services, except for lodging services related to tourism projects.
- Other services, excluding public administration.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
- Acquisition, construction, development or expansion of buildings.
- Acquisition and implementation of equipment or software.
- Expenses related to significant technological transitions such as cloud computing, business intelligence, and artificial intelligence.
- Working capital expenses necessary for the execution of an investment project, applicable when financial assistance consists of a loan guarantee, a repayable financial contribution, or a forgivable loan, up to a maximum of 20% of total eligible expenses.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
- Companies registered in and operating within Quebec are eligible.
- For those with seasonal activities, eligible regions include Côte-Nord, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and the Capitale-Nationale (MRC de Charlevoix, Charlevoix-Est, and Portneuf).
grant_single_labels|criteria
To be selected, projects submitted for this grant must successfully pass certain evaluation and selection stages based on defined criteria.
- Anchoring of projects in ministerial and governmental strategies aimed at increasing productivity.
- Potential for increasing the production capacity or modernizing the beneficiary company.
- Demonstrated ability of the company to repay the loan.
- The company's ability to improve its productivity or competitiveness through the project.
- Financial justification of the project including the quality of management, production, and marketing.
- The capacity to implement the project within a maximum period of 12 months for projects requiring significant investment.
- Notable increase in payroll disbursed, verifiable during the first three years following the start of the project.
grant_single_labels|apply
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grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- The grant includes both repayable contributions and non-repayable contributions, as well as loan guarantees with a reimbursement guarantee of up to 70% on the net loss.
- Management fees (study fees) of at least 0.5% of the amount of the financial aid granted are required from the business.
- Annual guarantee fees of at least 0.5% of the guaranteed amount are required.
Apply to this program
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