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FTQ — Local Funds
Last Update: March 3, 2026
Quebec, Canada
Local financing for Quebec SMEs to start, grow, and modernize
Loans and Capital investments
Overview
The FTQ Local Funds provide Québec-based SMEs (including social economy enterprises) with financing of up to $100,000 to support local economic development and the creation or maintenance of sustainable, quality jobs. Eligible activities may include starting or buying a business, exporting, growth projects, modernization, and productivity improvements, depending on the local action plan and development priorities.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Integrate new technologies
- Buying or selling a company
- Optimize production processes
Eligible Funding
- Maximum amount : 100,000 $
Timeline
- Open continuously
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
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Startups
Activities funded
- Starting or buying a business.
- Export projects.
- Business growth projects.
- Modernizing operations.
- Improving productivity.
Eligibility
- The applicant must be an SME located in a territory served by a Fonds local.
- The applicant must be headquartered in Québec (including social economy companies).
- The project must be in an activity sector aligned with the local action plan and local development priorities.
- The project should be profitable and support job creation (e.g., start-up or acquisition, exporting, growth, modernization, productivity improvement).
Who is eligible?
- Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in a territory served by a Fonds local
- Québec-headquartered businesses (including social economy companies)
Eligible geographic areas
- Québec (businesses headquartered in Québec).
- Any territory served by a Fonds local (within Québec).
Selection criteria
- Economic viability of the company/project.
- Employment spinoffs (job creation and retention impacts).
- Knowledge and experience of the stakeholders.
- Value placed on human resources.
- Participation of other financial partners.
How to apply
1
Check eligibility
- Confirm that your business is an SME located in a territory served by a Fonds local
- Ensure your business is headquartered in Québec (including social economy companies)
- Verify that your activity sector aligns with the local action plan and development priorities
2
Define your financing project
- Define the project to finance (e.g., start or buy a business, exporting, growth, modernization, productivity improvement)
- Identify the financing form needed: equity loan or conventional loan
- Take into account that, depending on the territory, financing can reach up to $100,000 per business
3
Find your Fonds local
- Locate the appropriate Fonds local among the network of 98 Fonds locaux
- Contact the local specialists responsible for economic development in your RCM (or an equivalent designated organization)
4
Complete the contact form
- Complete the contact form to request information about financing solutions
5
Submit financing request
- Submit your financing request for analysis by the local solidarity fund
- Be prepared for assessment based on economic viability, job spinoffs, stakeholders’ knowledge and experience, value placed on human resources, and participation of other financial partners
Additional information
- As of December 31, 2023, the Fonds locaux network included 98 local funds.
- As of December 31, 2023, more than $115 million was available to support Québec SMEs ($29 million invested by local partners and $86 million from the Fonds de solidarité FTQ).
- As of December 31, 2023, the network reported 6,816 authorized projects and $219.3 million in authorized financing.
- As of December 31, 2023, the network reported 61,645 jobs created and retained, with projects totalling $3.3 billion in value.
