MRC d'Avignon — Local Investment Funds (FLI) and Local Solidarity Funds (FLS)

• The applicant must be a legally constituted for-profit business under Quebec or Canadian law, or a collective enterprise such as a cooperative or non-profit organization (NPO) with commercial activities, located within the MRC d'Avignon and with its head office in Quebec.
• The business must be registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register (REQ).
• The company must demonstrate economic viability and a reasonable prospect of profitability and repayment capacity.
• The management team or promoters must have relevant knowledge and experience in the field as well as management skills.
• The project must contribute to local economic development, such as through business start-up, growth, acquisition, productivity improvement, or business succession, and must be at the commercialization phase or beyond (pre-commercialization projects are excluded).

Who is eligible?

• Legally incorporated for-profit businesses in Quebec or Canada
• Collective enterprises such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations (OBNLs) with commercial activities operating as social economy enterprises
• Companies with operations within the territory of the MRC d'Avignon and head office in Quebec

Who is not eligible

• Companies listed on the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors.
• Government-controlled corporations, state-owned enterprises, or companies majority-owned by a public body.
• Businesses under bankruptcy protection or subject to insolvency legislation.
• Companies involved in the production or distribution of armaments, gambling, violent games or combat sports, sexual exploitation industries, or real estate development (except specific projects benefiting tenants or residents).
• Businesses whose activities are primarily related to fossil fuels (e.g., oil, thermal coal), tobacco, or recreational and non-approved cannabis products.

Eligible expenses

• Additional working capital directly required for the realization of the business project, limited to a maximum period of two years (the project year and the following year), based on justified and reasonable expenses.
• Capital expenditures strictly and directly linked to the realization of the business project, such as acquisition of technology, land, buildings, equipment, machinery, and rolling stock, as well as construction, expansion, renovation, and fit-out of land or premises.
• Professional fees incurred prior to the realization of the business project, such as feasibility analysis, external audit, or impact studies.
• Professional fees strictly and directly tied to the implementation of the business project, including the installation of technology, equipment, or machinery, and acquisition, construction, renovation, and development of land and premises.
• For business succession projects: acquisition costs of ownership titles (voting shares or partnership units) and assets of the targeted company, as well as professional fees directly related to the transaction and business succession process.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses operating within the territory of the MRC d'Avignon.
• Companies with their head office located in Quebec.

• Economic viability and sustainability of the financed business, including profitability and repayment capacity.
• Relevant knowledge and experience of the promoters (management skills and sector-specific expertise).
• Contribution to positive environmental and societal impacts and sustainable business practices.
• Openness and quality of labor relations with employees.
• Participation of other financial partners and promoters' financial contribution to the project.

• The investment policy is subject to updates by the MRC and any changes must be communicated to relevant oversight bodies.
• The MRC may require personal guarantees or security interests for certain projects.
• No application or annual follow-up fees are charged to applicants or recipients.
• The common investment committee (CIC) may request exceptions to the investment framework, but never for enterprises with negative net assets after project completion.