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FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2

Funding for student jobs and CIEC projects

Offered by
Solidarity Funds (FTQ)

Record updated

Funding available
$ 8,736
Up to 100% of project cost
Deadline
Unspecified
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.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum funding
$8,736
Maximum share of project costs
100%
Financing goals
  • Reduce environmental footprint
  • Develop workforce skills
  • Start a business

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Quebec
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
$ 10,000,000 maximum revenue
Organisation size
1-49 employees
Audience
  • Youth (<40)
Legal structures
For-profit business, Non-profit, Social economy enterprise, Non-financial cooperative
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
Scope
Local, Regional, Provincial

Receipt of requests is now closed

Get notified about updates to this grant.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

Student application pause

The student project listing page now says applications are paused until March 1 and no records are currently displayed.

See more

The Fonds étudiant project listing page now shows an important notice that application submissions are paused until March 1. The same page also no longer displays project records, and the signup/reopen links previously shown at the bottom have been removed. The financing page only shows minor wording and heading edits, including renamed headings such as emploi estival and projets CIEC, while the published dates and funding rates remain the same: 90% coverage for emploi estival, 100% reimbursement of the first CIEC coordination position salary, and 90% of the salary for eligible work during the May 1 to August 31 period.

Official source: fondsetudiant.com
July 8, 2026

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

Activities funded

  • Hiring students for summer employment in eligible sectors.
  • Hiring coordinators for CIEC collective entrepreneurship projects.
  • Supporting pre-startup collective enterprise projects.

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.

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

Selection criteria

  • Project relevance.
  • Ability to offer an enriching student experience.
  • Potential impact on student skill development.

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

Fondsetudiant@fondsetudiant.com
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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?

Student gross salaries Coordinator gross salaries for CIEC projects Vacation pay indemnity (4%) for CIEC 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