Capitalization of Social Economy Enterprises (CAES) — Stream 2
QC, Canada
Financial assistance for social economy enterprises acquisition
grant_single|update March 19, 2025
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- Investissement Québec (IQ)
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
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.
grant_single_labels|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.
grant_single_labels|projects
- 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).
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$ 15,000
Developing a community garden for urban sustainability workshops
grant_single_labels|admissibility
- 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.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
- 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
grant_eligibility_criteria|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.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
- 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.
