Laurentides Tourism — Regional Partnership and Digital Transformation Agreement in Tourism (EPRTNT) – Structuring the regional tourism offering

• The grant provides non-repayable financial assistance.
• Eligible project costs must total at least $20,000.
• The maximum financial contribution per project is $95,000.
• Funding covers up to 50% of eligible costs for for-profit businesses, with a lower required promoter contribution for non-profits, cooperatives, municipal entities, and Indigenous organizations (minimum promoter contributions: 50% for for-profits, 20% for non-profits/cooperatives/municipalities, 10% for Indigenous entities).
• The combined government assistance (including municipal, provincial, and federal funding) cannot exceed percentage caps based on organization type (e.g., 50% for for-profits, 80% for non-profits/municipalities/cooperatives, 90% for Indigenous groups).

• The applicant must be a legally constituted entity under the laws of Quebec or Canada and operate in Quebec.
• Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, non-profits, cooperatives, municipal entities, recognized Indigenous communities, and regional tourism associations (with financial partners for each project).
• Applicants must be in good standing with previous commitments if they have received prior funding from partners.
• If operating a tourist accommodation, the applicant must comply with applicable laws and regulations and possess a valid registration number.
• For nature and adventure tourism businesses, applicants must demonstrate compliance with (or a commitment to comply with) the Adventure Ecotourism Quebec Quality-Safety Accreditation Program.

Who is eligible?

• For-profit tourism enterprises
• Non-profit tourism organizations
• Tourism cooperatives
• Municipal entities (e.g., cities, towns, MRCs)
• Recognized Indigenous communities, organizations, and tourism enterprises
• Regional tourism associations (with financial partner support)
• Groups composed of any of the above eligible applicants

Who is not eligible

• Provincial and federal government departments, agencies, and Crown corporations.
• Applicants listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts.
• Companies not compliant with the French language requirements of the Office québécois de la langue française.
• Businesses operating bed and breakfasts, hotel condominiums (condotels), restaurants, or retail stores as their main activity.
• Companies involved in gambling or establishments dedicated primarily to the sale and consumption of alcohol.

Eligible expenses

• Fees for specialized firms or consultants.
• Travel expenses, within public sector standards, and general expenses, salaries, and benefits for human resources dedicated specifically to the project.
• Costs related to the purchase and installation of equipment necessary for the project’s structuring.
• Net taxes related to eligible expenses (excluding refundable portions).

Eligible geographic areas

• Laurentides region, Quebec

• Alignment with the objectives of the EPRTNT 25-27 program.
• Structural impact, including the project's attraction potential, territorial reach, benefits, collaboration with partners, job creation, and season extension.
• Innovative nature of the project.
• Quality of the concept, products, and services offered.
• Financial structure and project financing.
• Relevance to the tourism clientele and market context, including diversification, competition, quality of offer, partnerships, and marketing strategy.
• Feasibility, including timeline, marketing strategy, business plan or study brief quality, and promoter expertise.
• Integration of sustainable development principles.

• If financial aid granted to a project is $100,000 or more and the recipient is a for-profit entity with more than 100 employees, an equal access employment program must be implemented.
• Public tenders are required for construction contracts of $100,000 or more financed through this program.
• Organizations with 25 or more employees operating in Quebec for a six-month period must provide proof of compliance with the French language requirements.
• Projects involving construction or expansion on public sites with costs of $150,000 or more must follow Quebec's policy for the integration of arts into public buildings and environments.