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

• Completed, dated and signed financial assistance application form
• Business plan and/or detailed project description as required in the application
• Detailed breakdown of project-related expenses
• Project financing plan and confirmation of any other financial assistance or financing linked to the project
• Financial statements for the last three years, interim statements if applicable, forecast statements, and any other document required by the MRC

Who is eligible?

• For-profit businesses legally incorporated under the laws of Quebec or Canada
• Cooperatives and non-profit organizations with commercial activities under the Social Economy Act

Who is not eligible

• Applicants listed in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (RENA), including subcontractors listed on the RENA for project work
• Applicants that failed, within the two years before the application, to meet obligations after formal notice in connection with previous financial assistance
• State-owned companies, government-controlled companies, and companies owned mainly by a state-owned company
• Applicants under the protection of the Loi sur les arrangements avec les créanciers des compagnies or the Loi sur la faillite et l’insolvabilité
• Enterprises operating, in whole or in part, in excluded sectors such as arms, fossil fuels, gambling, violent sports, sexual exploitation, real estate development, tobacco or drugs, and non-eligible cannabis-related activities

Eligible expenses

• Additional working capital needed to complete the project
• Capital expenses directly linked to the project, including technology, land, buildings, equipment, machinery, rolling stock, construction, expansion, renovation, and site or premises development
• Professional fees before or directly related to project completion, including feasibility analysis, external audit, impact study, and implementation
• For takeover projects, acquisition of shares or assets and related professional fees

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Expenses incurred before the application is filed
• Debt service, future loan repayments, capital replacement, capital withdrawals, and capital payments
• Transactions between related businesses or partners
• Research and development expenses
• Normal operating expenses and Quebec sales taxes

Eligible geographic areas

• MRC Avignon territory

• Economic viability, repayment capacity, and good prospects
• Promoters’ knowledge, experience, and management skills
• Environmental and social benefits
• Openness toward workers and labour relations
• Participation from other financial partners and fund sustainability

• Complete the financial assistance application form
• Prepare the business plan or detailed project description, the project expense breakdown, and the financing plan
• Attach the required financial statements and any other document requested by the MRC
• Submit the complete application file to the MRC

• Applications are processed continuously once the required information and documents have been provided
• The MRC carries out admissibility, analysis, and decision-making for the files
• Approved projects are subject to a loan agreement
• The borrower must provide financial and management reports reasonably requested by the funds

• Free technical support and mentoring are available.
• The MRC also helps applicants identify the right financing tools.
• Applications are reviewed with the local development priorities in mind.
• Support services are confidential.