Closed
Source verified August 11, 2026
FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2
Funding for student jobs and CIEC projects
Offered by
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Funding available
$ 8,736
Deadline
Closed
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Private small businesses with 1 to 49 employees, at least 3 years of existence, and annual revenue under $10M
See full eligibility
Overview
The Fonds étudiant solidarité travail Québec (FESTQ) supports student employment across Quebec through wage subsidies of up to 90% or 100%, depending on the stream. It also backs CIEC collective entrepreneurship projects and training that build practical skills, mentorship, and workplace readiness.
Receipt of requests is now closed
Get notified about updates to this grant.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Develop workforce skills
- Start a business
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 8,736 $
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Quebec
Legal structures
- For-profit business
- Non-profit
- Social economy enterprise
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- $ 10,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
- 1-49 employees
Audience
- Youth (<40)
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Primary and Secondary Education
- Higher Education
- Economic, Social and Community Development
- Employment and Training
- Unions
Target groups
- Children & youth
- Young adults
- Business owners / entrepreneurs
- Academia / students
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- Local
- Regional
- Provincial
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Hiring students for summer employment in eligible sectors.
- Hiring coordinators for CIEC collective entrepreneurship projects.
- Supporting pre-startup collective enterprise projects.
Documents Needed
- État des renseignements du Registre des entreprises du Québec (REQ)
- Most recent financial statements
- Proof of school attendance for the session preceding employment
- Employer specimen cheque
- Student pay stubs, proof of payment of the 4% vacation indemnity, and Record of Employment
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Private small businesses with 1 to 49 employees, at least 3 years of existence, and annual revenue under $10M
- Social economy enterprises and non-financial cooperatives
- Community action non-profit organizations without a commercial component and governed democratically
- Labour organizations affiliated with the FTQ, CSQ, FIQ, or UPA
- Agri-food cooperatives that are members of Sollio Groupe Coopératif
Who is not eligible
- Centres de la petite enfance; carrefours jeunesse-emploi; Chevaliers de Colomb; Chambres de commerce; Clubs Lions; municipalités; Sociétés d’aide au développement de la collectivité (SADC); fondations; fédérations et associations sportives
- Projects with a political character
- Projects with a religious character
- Day camps or vacation camps, except those that support children with a physical or intellectual disability
Eligible expenses
- Student gross salaries
- Coordinator gross salaries for CIEC projects
- Vacation pay indemnity (4%) for CIEC projects
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Overtime hours above 40 per week
- Hours worked outside 1 May to 31 August
- Any salary increase above the admissible hourly rate is at the employer's expense
Eligible geographic areas
- Quebec
Selection criteria
- Project relevance.
- Ability to offer an enriching student experience.
- Potential impact on student skill development.
How to apply
- Register on the Fonds étudiant portal if you do not already have an account.
- Submit the project with the requested organization and project information, and upload the required documents.
- Recruit the student and provide the requested student information and documents.
- Submit the reimbursement request with the hours worked and the required payroll documents.
Processing and Agreement
- After the project submission deadline, applications are reviewed by an independent selection committee.
- Project decisions are issued toward the end of April.
- Employers are notified of the decision by email.
Additional information
- The program is issued through a partnership between the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, the FTQ, and the Government of Québec.
- It was created in 1998 to finance summer jobs for students.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 Program
What is the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2?
The Fonds étudiant solidarité travail Québec (FESTQ) supports student employment across Quebec through wage subsidies of up to 90% or 100%, depending on the stream. It also backs CIEC collective entrepreneurship projects and training that build practical skills, mentorship, and workplace readiness.
How much funding can be received?
FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses, capped at $8,736 per project.
Who is eligible for the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program?
To be eligible for the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program, you must:
Eligible employers include small private businesses, social economy organizations, community action organizations, labour organizations, and cooperatives.
Some employer categories can submit only one project per year.
What expenses are eligible under FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2?
Hiring students for summer employment in eligible sectors.
Hiring coordinators for CIEC collective entrepreneurship projects.
Supporting pre-startup collective enterprise projects.
Who can I contact for more information about the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2?
You can contact Solidarity Funds (FTQ) by email at Fondsetudiant@fondsetudiant.com.
Where is the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 available?
The FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program is available the province of Quebec.
Is the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 a grant, loan, or tax credit?
FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 is a Wage Subsidies And Interns