ESSOR – Component 2 (Chantier productivité)

• Management fees (study fees) of at least 0.5% of the financial assistance granted are required from the company.
• Annual guarantee fees of at least 0.5% of the amount guaranteed are required.
• Project investment must involve at least $100,000 in eligible expenses to qualify.
• For working capital expenses, aid through a repayable contribution, loan guarantee, or forgivable loan can cover up to 20% of total eligible project costs.
• A project must begin within 6 months of approval, or up to 12 months for investments of at least $10 million or the creation of 100 jobs.

• The applicant must be a for-profit business or a social economy enterprise.
• The company must be registered in Quebec and operate or commit to operate in Quebec (foreign companies must start operations within 12 months of project approval).
• The project must involve a minimum of $100,000 in eligible expenditures and focus on increasing production capacity, business creation, expansion, modernization, or technological transition.
• For projects involving digital solutions, businesses from all sectors are eligible.
• The project must have the potential to increase productivity, such as through higher profitability or increased payroll, and must start within the specified timeframe after approval.

Who is eligible?

• For-profit enterprises
• Social economy enterprises
• Foreign enterprises (must be registered in Quebec and commit to operate in Quebec within twelve months of project approval)
• Companies from all sectors except for the primary sector (agriculture, forestry, fishing) except greenhouse production, major processing projects, and forestry operations
• Companies in all sectors for digital solutions implementation projects
• Seasonal businesses located in Côte-Nord, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, and Capitale-Nationale (MRC de Charlevoix, Charlevoix-Est, and Portneuf), including those in the primary sector (commercial fishing, mariculture, agriculture, peat bogs, etc.)

Who is not eligible

• Companies in the primary sector (agriculture, forestry, fishing), except for greenhouse cultivation, major conditioning projects over $10M, or forest exploitation.
• Businesses in mining, quarrying, and oil & gas extraction.
• Companies offering real estate, rental, and leasing services.
• Enterprises in construction (except those linked to productivity improvements).
• Organizations in public services, holding companies, healthcare and social assistance, educational services, public administration, finance and insurance, arts, entertainment and recreation, telecommunications, broadcasting, accommodation and food services (unless accommodation is part of a tourism project), and other services except public administration.

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.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies registered and operating in Quebec.
• For seasonal activities: Côte-Nord, Gaspésie-Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Capitale-Nationale (MRC of Charlevoix, Charlevoix-Est, and Portneuf).

• The project must demonstrate potential for increasing productivity, either through an increase in profitability or through an increase in payroll paid.
• The project must start no later than six months after its authorization (or up to 12 months for certain major projects).
• The project execution period must not exceed five years, with a preferred timeline not exceeding three years.

• Management fees (study 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 applies.
• The financial assistance to be prioritized includes repayable contributions and loan guarantees.
• Additional conditions may apply depending on the specific project and funding mechanism.