How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 90% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2?

FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 is funded by Solidarity Funds — FTQ

What are FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2's eligibility criterias?

Must be a private small business registered in Quebec Can submit only one project per year

FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2

Last Update: June 7, 2025

QC, Canada

FESTQ grants employers to hire student interns

FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 at a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 90% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : January 29, 2024
Closing date : April 30, 2024

Financing Type

Wage Subsidies And Interns

Eligible Industries

All industries

Grant Providers

Solidarity Funds — FTQ

Status

Closed

Overview of the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program

The FESTQ program offers up to 90% funding of the student's salary to support employers in hiring students from secondary to university levels, aiming to foster self-discovery, social solidarity, and entrepreneurial skills. Eligible activities include initiating entrepreneurial projects and coordinating roles within various sectors such as small private businesses, social economy, and cooperative agricultural enterprises.

Financing terms and conditions

FESTQ I: Covers up to 90% of the salary paid to students, with the employer responsible for at least 10% and all applicable social charges.
FESTQ II: Covers up to 100% of the salary paid to student coordinators (excluding vacation pay and social charges, which are paid by the employer).
Hourly wage and minimum hours by level: Secondary - $18/h for at least 245 hours; College - $19/h for at least 315 hours; University - $20/h for at least 350 hours (FESTQ I). For coordination positions under FESTQ II: $20/h for at least 420 hours, or $20/h for at least 350 hours with a lump sum of $3,000 for a second coordinator position.

Eligible projects & activities

Employment of secondary, college, or university students in various business sectors through short-term work placements.
Hiring student coordinators in collective entrepreneurship initiation co-ops (CIEC) to provide entrepreneurial experiences for secondary-level youth.
Pre-startup projects in collective enterprises, supported through coordinator employment and specific bursaries.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 7,000

A biotechnology firm seeks to hire university students for innovative project development

Eligibility criteria of the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program

The applicant must be a business or organization from eligible sectors, such as private small businesses, social economy organizations, community action organizations, cooperatives, or labour organizations.
The applicant must submit a project aimed at hiring students from secondary, college, or university levels (FESTQ I), or hiring coordinators for collective entrepreneurship projects (FESTQ II).
The applicant can only submit one project per year for sectors including private small businesses, social economy organizations, and cooperatives.
The company must provide required documentation, including business registration information and most recent financial statements, at the application stage.

Who is eligible?

Small private businesses
Social economy and community action organizations
Agri-food cooperatives
Labour organizations
Collective entrepreneurship youth co-ops (CIEC)

Who is not eligible

An employer in the sectors of small private business, social economy, or cooperative can only submit one project per year.

Eligible expenses

Reimbursement of student salaries, based on fixed hourly rates and minimum hours according to the student’s educational level.
Payment of the holiday pay allowance (indemnity of 4%).
For certain coordination positions, a lump sum payment (as specified by the program).

Eligible geographic areas

Quebec

How to apply to the FESTQ - Student Funds 1 and 2 program

Submission of your project (Project submission)

Prepare the statement of information from the Quebec business register.
Gather the most recent financial statements.
Submit the project corresponding to your sector of activity before the deadline.

Recruitment of the student (Recruitment)

Obtain proof of the student's school attendance for the session preceding the employment.
Have the agreement signed between the employer and the student.
Provide a specimen check from the employer.

Request for reimbursement (Reimbursement)

Gather the student’s pay slips for the employment period.
Obtain the student’s statement of employment.
Provide, upon request, proof of payment of the vacation allowance (4%).

Additional information

Each eligible employer may submit only one project per year.
All projects are subject to a rigorous review to ensure alignment with FESTQ’s mission and values.
The website updates annually, with new applications generally opening around late January.
Responses to applicant inquiries are provided within 48 business hours.