Fonds Écoleader — Specific implementation support

Who is eligible?

• For-profit businesses legally incorporated and registered in Quebec
• Social economy enterprises (such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations) legally incorporated and registered in Quebec

Who is not eligible

• Sole proprietorships (self-employed individuals).
• Condominium syndicates, associations, and groups of individuals.
• Financial services companies and other businesses regulated by the Autorité des marchés financiers, including insurance companies and brokers.
• Companies constituted as joint ventures according to the Registraire des entreprises du Québec.
• Companies listed on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA), including experts and subcontractors registered with RENA.
• Companies that have failed to meet obligations after formal notice from FAQDD, MEIE, or Investissement Québec in relation to previous financial aid in the past two years.
• Crown corporations or companies controlled directly or indirectly by a government (municipal, provincial, or federal), municipal entities, or companies majority-owned by a Crown corporation (except those owned by band councils or Indigenous communities).
• Companies under the protection of the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act or the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act.
• Holding companies.
• Companies with ethical conduct issues that may tarnish the image of integrity or probity of the Quebec or Canadian governments.
• Companies engaged in the following activities: production or distribution of weapons; fossil fuel exploration, extraction, drilling, production, and refining (except for activities supporting transition to a low-carbon economy); gambling and gaming, violent games, combat sports involving any living species, races or similar activities; sexual exploitation (e.g., erotic bars, escort agencies, erotic massage parlors, swingers’ clubs); production, sale, or services related to tobacco or drugs; activities with a primary focus protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (religion, politics, rights defense, etc.).
• Professional orders, religious organizations, unions representing individuals or non-business clienteles, political parties, public and private foundations, student associations, and private educational institutions at primary, secondary, or postsecondary levels (regarding non-profit entities).

Eligible expenses

• Professional fees for external expert services listed in the Fonds Écoleader directory (up to $200/hour, associated with specific activities).
• Travel and accommodation expenses related to project activities (maximum $2,500 for individual projects, $5,000 for cohort projects, subject to economic consideration and government rates).
• Taxes directly applicable to eligible project expenses.
• Training costs necessary for project implementation (up to 50% of total project cost).
• Material costs required for the implementation of eco-responsible business practices or clean technology (up to 15% of total project cost; not covering the purchase of clean technology itself).
• Communication costs related to the project (up to 10% of total project cost; e.g., development of informational or awareness tools for employee training).
• Professional fees directly tied to project reporting requirements demanded by the FAQDD (up to $1,500).
• Fees for subcontractors not listed in the Fonds Écoleader expert directory (up to 10% of total project cost, maximum $10,000).
• Coordination fees (for companies acting as both coordinator and member of a cohort, with required confirmation letter).
• For cohort projects, coordination fees of up to 10% of eligible expenses, maximum $25,000 (including the portion of salary dedicated to the project and up to 10% for administration, calculated on the coordination fee itself).

Eligible geographic areas

The Fonds Écoleader financial support targets businesses located within the Quebec province. The fund supports initiatives aligned with sustainable business practices specific to this geographical region.

• Businesses with headquarters in Quebec.
• Organizations registered under the Quebec business registry.

Here are additional relevant details for this financial support:

• The approval of a project and issuance of the financial support depend on a written confirmation by FAQDD, and any expenses incurred before this confirmation are at the applicant's own risk.
• The eligible activities can include both eco-responsible business practices and clean technologies, but separate applications must be submitted for each.
• Progress reports and final reporting are integral elements of the funding process, ensuring the project's impacts are documented and assessed.
• Coordination fees can represent up to 10% of eligible costs but are subject to specific conditions.