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Source verified July 23, 2026
ESSOR - Component 5
Financing for resilient softwood lumber sawmill investments
Funding available
$ 10,000,000
Deadline
March 31, 2027
Location
Quebec, Canada
Overview
ESSOR - Component 5 supports for-profit companies and social economy enterprises in Quebec to invest in the resilience of softwood lumber sawmills. It funds diversification, new value-added products, and productivity improvements such as automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase performance through digital transformation
- Increase production or service capacity
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Minimum amount : 10,000,000 $
- Up to 50% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Social economy enterprise
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- All groups
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Diversification of production
- Development of new value-added products
- Productivity improvement, including automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation
Documents Needed
- Three years of financial statements and/or forecast financial statements, as needed
- Business plan detailing the planned investment, target market, estimated costs, financial structure, schedule, and expected contribution to resilience and financial viability
- Proof of compliance with francization requirements, if applicable
- Declaration of compliance with the Equal Access to Employment Program, if applicable
- Any other document required by the ministère de l’Économie, de l’Innovation et de l’Énergie (MEIE) or the Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF)
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- For-profit companies registered in Quebec
- Social economy enterprises within the meaning of the Act respecting social economy (CQLR, chapter E 1.1.1) registered in Quebec
- Companies linked to, or part of, a corporate group operating a softwood lumber sawmill in Quebec
- Companies operating a softwood lumber sawmill in Quebec
Eligible expenses
- Acquisition, construction or expansion of buildings
- Purchase and implementation of equipment or software
- Expenses related to technological transformation, including cloud computing, business intelligence, and artificial intelligence
- Working capital related to the project, up to 20%
Selection criteria
- The project must be integrated into at least one softwood lumber sawmill classified as strategic by the ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts (MRNF) based on the plant's condition and operational performance, cost competitiveness, importance in the value chain, sensitivity of the MRC's forestry industry, and wood supply capacity.
How to apply
- Contact Sonya Cliche, Directrice principale, Programmes et Financement spécialisé, by email or at 418 222-5774.
Processing and Agreement
- Applications are assessed for admissibility, analysis, and decision by Investissement Québec teams.
- If the request is deemed admissible, the applicant must provide the requested documents.
Additional information
- The program is administered by Investissement Québec as a mandatary of the Government of Quebec.
- The MEIE and Investissement Québec may suspend the filing and analysis of applications without notice to protect available budget envelope amounts.
- Applicants are invited to consult the program's normative framework for more information.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- ESSOR – Component 1ASupports feasibility studies for investment projects
- ESSOR – Component 1BSupport for digital diagnostics and implementation planning
- ESSOR – Component 1CSupport for investment project planning
- ESSOR – Component 2 (Productivity Project)Supports investment projects for productivity and expansion
- ESSOR – Component 3Support for greener investment projects
- ESSOR – Component 4Supports Quebec companies in international expansion
- Support for the Completion of Investment ProjectsSupport for investment and digital transition projects
Frequently Asked Questions about the ESSOR - Component 5 Program
What is the ESSOR - Component 5?
ESSOR - Component 5 supports for-profit companies and social economy enterprises in Quebec to invest in the resilience of softwood lumber sawmills. It funds diversification, new value-added products, and productivity improvements such as automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation.
How much funding can be received?
ESSOR - Component 5 Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $10,000,000 per project.
Who is eligible for the ESSOR - Component 5 program?
To be eligible for the ESSOR - Component 5 program, you must:
For-profit or social economy enterprise registered in Quebec.
Quebec establishment and operations for at least two years.
Business linked to, or part of a corporate group operating, a Quebec softwood lumber sawmill.
Project integrated with at least one Quebec softwood lumber sawmill qualified as strategic by the MRNF.
Investment project of at least $10M.
Project aimed at diversification, new value-added products, or productivity improvement.
Forgiveness clause possible only when the project includes diversification or new products, not productivity alone.
What expenses are eligible under ESSOR - Component 5?
Diversification of production
Development of new value-added products
Productivity improvement, including automation, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation
Who can I contact for more information about the ESSOR - Component 5?
You can contact Investissement Québec (IQ) by email at Sonya.Cliche@invest-quebec.com or by phone at 4182225774.
Where is the ESSOR - Component 5 available?
The ESSOR - Component 5 program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the ESSOR - Component 5 a grant, loan, or tax credit?
ESSOR - Component 5 is a Loans and Capital investments