MRC Beauce-Sartigan — Créavenir program
QC, Canada
Financing and support for young entrepreneurs lacking guarantees
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|maxCount
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|timelineUnspecified
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
Loans and Capital investments
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- grant_single|allIndustries
grant_single|grantors
- MRC Beauce-Sartigan
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grant_card_status|open
grant_single_labels|preview
The Créavenir program by Desjardins is designed to support young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 who lack the necessary guarantees or capital for conventional financing, offering up to $20,000 in funding through a line of credit and grant. The program focuses on facilitating entrepreneurship by providing financial leverage and guidance for establishing new businesses, supporting businesses less than three years old, or taking over and continuing an existing business.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant supports young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 who aim to start a new business or sustain a recent one. Eligible activities include the creation, maintenance, or transition of businesses, ensuring job retention and growth.
- Creating a new legally constituted business.
- Ensuring job creation or maintenance within established businesses less than three years old.
- Transitioning ownership of an existing business, ensuring at least 50% acquisition of capital stock.
- Forming cooperative businesses with a majority of young administrators.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
Eligibility for the Créavenir grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and business situation.
- The entrepreneur must be between 18 to 39 years old.
- The applicant must wish to create a new business or currently own a business that has been active for less than three years.
- The primary source of funding for the current business must be personal.
- The applicant must lack sufficient guarantees or the necessary down payment to access conventional financing.
- The applicant must either be a member of a participating caisse or commit to becoming one for managing the business account.
- The business's primary activity must be located within the territory of the Desjardins Business Centre Beauce-Sud and Appalaches.
- The business must work and fill needs within sectors determined by the Créavenir Committee and according to local needs.
- The project must not qualify for conventional financing and should use financial assistance to leverage access to other financing and programs.
- If the business is a new entity, it must be legally constituted or in the process of legal constitution, and submit a business plan developed or validated with the partner's assistance.
- If the business is established, it must be legally constituted, active for less than three years, ensure the maintenance or creation of jobs, and present both the initial and current year's business plan.
- If acquiring an existing business, the project must ensure job maintenance or creation and permit acquiring at least 50% of the share capital of the business.
- If the business is a cooperative, at least 50% of the cooperative's directors must be 39 years old or younger.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 who aim to start a business or own a business for less than 3 years (funded personally) and do not have the necessary guarantees or down payment to access conventional financing. Participants must also be members or agree to become members of a participating Desjardins caisse for business account management. The business's main activity must be located in the territory of the Desjardins Business Center in Beauce-Sud and Appalaches and operate in sectors determined by the Creavenir Committee according to community needs.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant covers specific financial aspects to assist young entrepreneurs.
- A margin of credit up to $15,000 for project financing needs.
- A subsidy up to $5,000 to complete the down payment necessary for obtaining other financing.
- A business credit card with a limit of $1,000 for current expenses.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant is particularly aimed at businesses located within certain areas managed by the participating Desjardins Caisses. This focus aligns with the regional support and development objectives set by Desjardins' Enterprise Centres.
- The Desjardins Enterprise Centre in Beauce-Sud.
- The Desjardins Enterprise Centre in Appalaches.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Application Submission
- Submit your application to one of the program's partner organizations.
- Step 2: Project Recommendation
- The partner organization reviews and recommends eligible projects.
- Step 3: Financial Grant Award
- The Créavenir Committee selects projects to receive financial support.
- Approved projects receive financial assistance from the Desjardins Business Center.
- Step 4: Project Monitoring
- Receive ongoing support and monitoring from the partner organization and the Desjardins Business Center.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
Here are additional relevant details for this grant:
- The programme Créavenir supports young entrepreneurs from 18 to 39 years old through adapted financial solutions without conventional guarantees.
- A maximum of 25% of the total assistance (financing + subsidy) can be constituted by the subsidy, which is aimed to serve as leverage for accessing other funds.
- Accompaniment and support in entrepreneurship, financing research, business planning, and mentorship are available through several regional partners.
- An interactive business plan tool and decision-making aids are available online at www.desjardins.com/plandaffaires.
- An increase in credit limits is possible if conditions are favorable, up to a total of CAD 30,000 (credit card + line of credit), maintaining the same favorable interest rate.
grant_single_labels|contact
1 866 599-7001
Apply to this program
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs with Financial Support
The Créavenir program by Desjardins provides financial and mentoring support to entrepreneurs aged 18 to 39 who lack the collateral or initial capital typically required for conventional financing. This initiative aims to empower young innovators by offering a tailored mix of credit and grants to facilitate the establishment and growth of new businesses.
Detailed Insights into the Créavenir Program: Boosting Entrepreneurial Growth
Focusing on aspiring business owners, the Créavenir program by Desjardins is a pivotal initiative dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs who face barriers in securing traditional financial aid. This program significantly lowers the entrance barriers for those aged between 18 and 39, enabling them to either create a business or expand one that is less than three years old. Through a unique financing structure, the program provides a flexible credit line of up to $15,000, complemented by a grant of up to $5,000 to support the necessary initial funding gap often encountered at the inception of business ventures.
The funding model is strategically designed to integrate both immediate financial aid and long-term business sustainability. The initiative includes a business credit card with a modest limit of $1,000, providing young entrepreneurs with a controlled method to manage preliminary operational expenses efficiently. Moreover, the Créavenir program offers the possibility to increase the collective credit limit, encompassing both the credit line and the card, up to $30,000, contingent on a favorable credit evaluation. The reduced interest rate (base rate plus 0.5%) further alleviates financial pressure, allowing entrepreneurs to focus on their core business activities.
In addition to its financial benefits, Créavenir emphasizes sustained mentorship and business support. By partnering with local economic development organizations, Desjardins ensures that beneficiaries receive expert guidance throughout their entrepreneurial journey. This support includes assistance in developing robust business plans, identifying additional funding sources, and navigating the intricacies of business management and scaling. The involvement of institutions like the Centre d’aide aux entreprises Beauce-Chaudière and the Conseil économique de Beauce underscores the comprehensive nature of the program's support network.
Créavenir's impact extends beyond mere financial aid, as its structure encourages young talents to exploit emerging opportunities in targeted sectors defined by the Committee Créavenir. The program’s criteria ensure funded projects fill existing market gaps within the Desjardins Entreprises Beauce-Sud and Appalaches territories, thereby fostering regional economic development and employment generation. Notably, projects selected often maintain a strong focus on innovation and sustainability, key elements for long-term business viability.
Young cooperatives also benefit from this initiative, provided that at least half of their administrators are under 39, aligning with Créavenir's commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship among younger demographics. The program not only propels fresh enterprises forward but also supports the transition and succession management in established businesses, particularly through ensuring that new entrepreneurs acquire significant ownership stakes necessary for more substantial governance and operational influence.
The Créavenir program by Desjardins is more than financial assistance; it is a holistic approach to building and sustaining businesses that contribute to economic dynamism in communities. For aspiring entrepreneurs in the eligible areas, the program represents an invaluable opportunity to materialize their business visions with structured financial supports and expert guidance, reinforcing Desjardins' commitment to empowering the next generation of business innovators.
