How much funding can be received?

The Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC) aims to support social economy enterprises in Québec in their real estate projects, including renovation, construction, and acquisition of buildings, to enhance their business development and service offerings. Eligible projects must demonstrate necessity for economic activities and complementarity with other funding sources, with financial assistance covering up to 50% of the project's eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500,000.

grant_single_labels|terms_and_conditions

This grant provides significant financial support to social economy enterprises for real estate projects, facilitating reduced financial strain and increased access to suitable facilities for their operations.

Non-repayable financial contribution.
Financial assistance covers up to 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $500,000.
Total government financial aid must not exceed 80% of the project's eligible expenses.

grant_single_labels|projects

This grant supports social economy enterprises in Quebec by financing real estate projects essential for economic development and collective missions. Eligible activities include renovations, constructions, and acquisitions tailored to business needs.

Renovation: Refurbishment, improvement, restoration, or upgrading of a building used for the production, sale, or service of goods and services.
Construction: Building, expanding, recycling, or reconstructing facilities dedicated to business operations.
Acquisition: Purchasing premises to enhance production or services offered by the enterprise.

grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample

$ 100,000

Renovating a community center to enhance its services and sustainability features

$ 250,000

Acquiring a new building for a non-profit theater company to expand its outreach programs

$ 250,000

Acquisition of a building to establish a cooperative workspace for freelancers and small businesses

$ 85,000

Renovating an incubator space for local start-ups to enhance business services

$ 175,000

Constructing a new facility for a cooperative bakery to increase production capacity

$ 105,000

Expanding a non-profit daycare center to accommodate more children and increase accessibility

grant_single_labels|admissibility

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's business structure and activities.

The applicant must be a social economy enterprise as defined under the Social Economy Act (RLRQ, chapitre E1.1.1).
The enterprise must have over 40% of its financial viability based on autonomous revenue in the last financial year.
For startups operating for less than 2 years, a business plan or project summary with financial projections for 24 months must demonstrate achieving the 40% revenue threshold by project completion.
The business must be registered in Quebec, have a permanent establishment, and actively conduct business in the province, irrespective of its constituting law (whether from Quebec or elsewhere).
Sectors ineligible for selection include financial and insurance services, animal services, and beverage outlets.
Non-eligible organization types include professional or employer associations, religious organizations, unions, chambers of commerce, political parties, public and private foundations, trusts, sports teams, student associations, and private educational institutions at any level.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply

Social economy enterprises that derive at least 40% of their financial sustainability from autonomous revenue generated from their economic activities within the last fiscal year are eligible to apply for the Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC). These enterprises must be registered in Quebec, have an establishment, and actively conduct operations in the region, regardless of their constituting law (from Quebec or elsewhere). For start-up enterprises operational for less than two years, they must provide a business plan or project summary and financial projections over 24 months to demonstrate that this 40% threshold will be reached by the end of the project.

grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply

This grant excludes specific types of organizations and sectors due to their status or main activity, ensuring funding alignment with the program's objectives.

Professional and employer groupings.
Religious organizations.
Labor unions.
Chambers of commerce.
Political parties.
Public and private foundations as defined by the Income Tax Act of Canada.
Trusts.
Sports teams.
Student associations.
Private primary, secondary, and postsecondary educational institutions.

grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses

The grant focuses on the support of real estate projects that advance the economic activities and missions of social economy enterprises. These projects aim to provide buildings better suited to the needs of these enterprises without increasing their debt burden.

Renovation: Refurbishing, improving, restoring or bringing buildings up to code for the production, sale, or provision of goods and services.
Construction: Building, expanding, recycling, or reconstructing premises for economic production, sales, or service delivery.
Acquisition: Purchasing buildings used for economic production, sales, or service delivery.

grant_eligibility_criteria|zone

This grant is available to companies that are registered and have an establishment actively operating in Quebec, as stipulated in the eligibility criteria mentioned.

Companies must be registered within the province of Quebec, Canada.

grant_single_labels|criteria

Yes, there are evaluation and selection criteria for this grant. The criteria ensure that the projects align with the program's objectives and demonstrate financial and operational viability.

Compliance with the definition of a social economy enterprise under the Law on Social Economy (RLRQ, chapter E1.1.1).
Financial viability relying on at least 40% of autonomous income from economic activities in the last financial year.
Immatriculation and active establishment in Quebec.
A viable business plan or project summary with financial forecasts for 24 months (for startups).
Projects addressing necessary developments for the economic activities and collective mission.
Complementary financial assistance with other partners and available funding sources.
Adherence to restrictions on non-eligible project types like housing, healthcare accommodations, and exclusive animal facilities.

grant_single_labels|register

Step 1: Verify Eligibility and Prepare Documentation
- Contact an expert at 1 844 474-6367 to confirm the eligibility of your enterprise and project.
- Prepare the required documents, including the company's statutes, regulations, financial statements, business plan, or project summary with financial forecasts for startups.
Step 2: Register with clicSÉQUR – Entreprises
- Create a clicSÉQUR – Entreprises account if you do not have one.
- Refer to the resources on how to register an enterprise with clicSÉQUR to open an account.
- Enroll for the services offered by the Ministry.
- Be aware that account creation may take up to four weeks.
Step 3: Prepare and Submit Application
- Log in to the client portal using your clicSÉQUR – Entreprises account.
- Complete the online application form via ClicSEQUR.
- Ensure all project details are accurate and upload the necessary documents, including at least one comprehensive estimate of the proposed works.
- Submit the completed application through the portal.
Step 4: Confirmation of Submission
- Verify submission confirmation and keep records of any confirmation receipt or application number provided.

grant_single_labels|otherInfo

The Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC) provides financial support to social economy enterprises for real estate projects, aiming to limit debt and enhance access to financing.

The PIEC is part of the 2020-2025 Government Action Plan for the Social Economy.
All sectors except financial services, animal services, and beverage services are eligible.
Evaluation includes necessity for economic activity development and complementary financial support.
Applications must be submitted between August 9 and October 15, 2024.
Potential applicants are advised to contact an expert before application submission to preliminarily confirm eligibility.
A PIEC financial aid cannot be combined with other MEIE program aids for the same project.
Application portal requires a clicSÉQUR – Entreprises account, and registration may take up to four weeks.
The maximum financial aid is up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at CAD 500,000.
State financial viability must be more than 40% derived from autonomous activities in the past financial year.

grant_single_labels|contact

1-844-474-6367

Apply to this program

Empowering Social Economy Enterprises through Infrastructure Development

The Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC) is designed to aid social economy enterprises in Quebec with acquiring, constructing, or renovating buildings essential for their growth. This initiative is part of the Government Action Plan for Social Economy 2020-2025, aiming to provide infrastructure support while ensuring financial sustainability.

In-Depth Overview of the Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC)

The Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneuriat collectif (PIEC) serves as a pivotal component in Quebec's strategy to fortify the social economy sector by focusing on infrastructure development. This program specifically assists social economy enterprises—those entities defined under the Loi sur l’économie sociale—as they embark on projects involving the renovation, acquisition, or construction of facilities necessary to drive their mission and economic activities forward.

Designed to complement existing financial resources, the PIEC emphasizes access to suitably adapted buildings and minimizing financial liabilities for enterprises. The core aim is to enhance fixed asset investments, thereby ensuring these enterprises can continue their operations sustainably and effectively. Only one application can be submitted per enterprise, guiding them to strategically consider which segment of the funding—renovation, acquisition, or construction—best suits their objectives.

The eligibility criteria for enterprises include being registered and actively operating in Quebec, with a stipulation that over 40% of their revenue must be derived from autonomous economic activities. Notably, this requirement ensures that businesses are significantly contributing to the economy through their operations, thus justifying the allocation of provincial resources to support infrastructure endeavors. For startups with less than two years in business, detailed financial projections and business planning are necessary to demonstrate potential compliance with revenue requirements, underscoring the program's commitment to supporting viable, impactful projects from their inception.

This grant program aligns with the strategic goals of promoting economic growth and social welfare through innovation and development in the social enterprise sector. By enabling these organizations to acquire or improve their physical spaces, the program not only supports immediate logistical and operational enhancements but also empowers social enterprises to broaden their service offerings and reach more beneficiaries effectively.

The funding offered through PIEC is a non-repayable grant, contributing up to 50% of eligible expenditures with a cap of $500,000. Enterprises are encouraged to leverage this support to not only meet their immediate infrastructural requirements but to also plan future expansions or upgrades that align with their long-term strategic goals. While the program specifies that only one type of aid from the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy can be used per project, it allows for the combination of other forms of governmental aid, adding a layer of financial strategy to optimize project budgeting and execution.

Additionally, the application process is facilitated through the clicSÉQUR portal, a gateway designed to streamline access to government services, ensuring efficiency and transparency. This digital integration supports enterprises in managing submissions, tracking progress, and consolidating necessary documentation efficiently. As enterprises prepare to apply, they are advised to consult the provided guides and contact the program’s support channels to confirm eligibility and align their proposals with program expectations.

Reflecting a commitment to eco-responsibility and innovation, the PIEC requires projects to adhere to principles of environmental stewardship in building and development practices. Enterprises are encouraged to present plans that incorporate sustainable technologies and practices, such as geothermic systems, ensuring that approved projects contribute positively to the environment alongside their social and economic impacts.

Overall, the PIEC represents a critical opportunity for social economy enterprises in Quebec to access much-needed infrastructure funding that supports both economic and social missions. By investing in the foundational facilities these enterprises operate within, the program fosters enhanced service delivery, sustainable growth, and an extended community impact, marking an important step forward in Quebec’s broader economic and social objectives.