undefined
Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2 - QC - Canada

Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2

Last Update: March 19, 2025
QC, Canada
Financial assistance for social economy enterprises acquisition

Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2 at a glance

Eligible Funding
  • From $50,000 to $2,000,000
  • Up to 80% of project cost
Timeline
  • Receipt of requests is now closed
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
  • All industries
Grant Providers
  • Investissement Québec (IQ)
Status
Closed

Overview of the Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2 program

The Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2 program offers up to $2,000,000 in funding to support the collective acquisition of enterprises, either fully or partially, by eligible cooperatives and non-profit organizations. The program aims to promote social economy business models by financing the purchase of company assets or shares.

Financing terms and conditions

  • Minimum cash contribution required: 10% of the granted aid.
  • Maximum aid rate: 80% of eligible expenses.
  • Minimum aid amount: $50,000.
  • Maximum aid amount: $2,000,000.
  • Combined government aid rate: 90% of eligible expenses.

Eligible projects & activities

  • Complete purchase of a company's assets or shares for integration into a social economy enterprise or the formation of a new social economy enterprise.
  • Partial purchase of shares in a company by a cooperative of worker-shareholders (CTA).
Examples of admissible projects:

$ 15,000

Developing a community garden for urban sustainability workshops

Eligibility criteria of the Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2 program

  • The applicant must be a non-profit organization (NPO) or a cooperative, federation of cooperatives, or confederation.
  • For a full enterprise purchase (Sub-component 2A), eligible cooperatives include: worker cooperatives, producer cooperatives, consumer cooperatives, solidarity cooperatives, federations, or confederations.
  • The total asset value of the enterprise must be 100 million CAD or less.
  • For a partial share purchase (Sub-component 2B), the applicant must be a shareholder worker cooperative with a total asset value of 100 million CAD or less.
  • Projects must involve the complete acquisition of company assets or shares, ensuring that operations are conducted collectively as a social economy enterprise.
  • There must be a minimum adjusted capitalization ratio of 35% after transaction completion.
  • All capital expenditures, including those related to the complete purchase contract and incidental expenses, are considered eligible.

Who is eligible?

  • Non-profit organizations (NPOs)
  • Cooperatives
  • Federations of cooperatives
  • Confederations of cooperatives
  • Worker-shareholder cooperatives (CTA)
  • Cooperative of work
  • Cooperative of producers
  • Cooperative of consumers
  • Cooperative of solidarity
  • Federation or confederation of cooperatives

Eligible expenses

  • Expenditures included in the complete purchase contract of an enterprise, including capital expenditures.
  • Associated costs related to the complete purchase contract.
  • Expenditures included in the partial purchase contract of shares of an enterprise, including capital expenditures.
  • Associated costs related to the partial purchase contract of shares.

Additional information

  • The grant program has been suspended as of December 6, 2024, for an indefinite period to ensure fund availability for contractual obligations.
  • The reception of new applications is currently suspended to manage the budget envelope efficiently and maintain program standards.
  • The minimum contribution required from the beneficiary is 10% of the assistance provided.

Apply to this program

More grants like this

Economic development program to help revitalize territories (DEPART)
Grant and FundingOpen
Quebec, Canada
DÉPART supports economic diversification and growth in targeted areas
MAPAQ — Food Processing Program Component 3 — Food quality and safety management
Grant and FundingClosed
Quebec, Canada
Funding nutritious food development projects in Québec businesses
Quebec Business Transfer Fund
Expert AdviceLoans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Loan for buyers in Quebec
Local investment fund
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Loans for entrepreneurs in Quebec
MRC La Nouvelle-Beauce — Nouvelle-Beauce entrepreneurial web
Grant and FundingExpert AdviceOpen
Quebec, Canada
Networking and financial aid for emerging entrepreneurs
MRC Matawinie — Local investment fund
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Investment support for business development in Matawinie
MRC Haute-Yamaska — Local investment and solidarity funds (FLI and FLS)
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Financial support for local business sustainability and growth
MRC Bellechasse — Local Investment Fund - Succession Component (FLI Relève)
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Interest-free loan to support business succession in Bellechasse
Sherbrooke — Local investment and solidarity funds (FLI and FLS)
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Sherbrooke, Quebec
Financial aid for Sherbrooke business development and job creation
MRC Bellechasse — Local Investment Fund & Local Solidarity Fund (FLI and FLS)
Loans and Capital investmentsOpen
Quebec, Canada
Financial support for business development in Bellechasse