MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS)
Last Update: June 11, 2025
QC, Canada
Supports business development and growth in the MRC du Rocher-Percé
MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) at a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $150,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Loans and Capital investments
Eligible Industries
- Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Wholesale trade
- Transportation and warehousing
- Information and cultural industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Educational services
- Health care and social assistance
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
- Other services (except public administration)
- Public administration
Grant Providers
- MRC du Rocher-Percé
Status
Open
Overview of the MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) program
The MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) provide financial support of up to $150,000 to businesses and eligible organizations for projects that drive economic development, job creation, and entrepreneurship within the region. Eligible activities include business start-up, acquisition, expansion, diversification, commercialization, and the implementation of innovative or structuring projects.
Financing terms and conditions
- The maximum amount of non-repayable financial assistance for a single beneficiary cannot exceed $150,000 within any consecutive 12-month period.
- For project grants, up to 50% of eligible expenses are covered, with maximums varying by project type (e.g., $25,000 for start-up or expansion/diversification, $15,000 for commercialization or studies/analyses).
- For organizations, grants can cover up to 70% of study or structuring project costs (capped at $15,000 for studies/analyses, $50,000 for structuring projects).
- Investment loans from local funds (FLI/FLS) cannot exceed $100,000 per business for FLS and $150,000 per business for FLI within a 12-month period, with an absolute FLI ceiling of $300,000 outstanding per business.
- Public financial aid (provincial and federal) cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible project cost for private enterprises, or 80% for social economy enterprises.
Eligible projects & activities
- Starting or acquiring a business, including entrepreneurial succession projects.
- Business expansion and diversification initiatives to increase revenues, productivity or create jobs.
- Commercialization efforts, such as developing innovative marketing strategies, launching e-commerce platforms, or enhancing web presence.
- Feasibility studies, market analysis, development of strategic plans, and other project validation studies.
- Support for innovative startups with high growth potential, especially in technology sectors.
Eligibility criteria of the MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) program
- The company must have a place of business on the territory of the MRC du Rocher-Percé.
- The business must be legally constituted and hold a Quebec Enterprise Number (NEQ).
- The company can be a private business, a cooperative, or a non-profit recognized as a social economy enterprise, depending on the project.
- The project must demonstrate a positive impact on job creation or retention, show potential for profitability and development, and be evaluated for market potential and local competition.
- For certain activities, the applicant must be at least 18 years old, be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, and reside permanently in Quebec.
Who is eligible?
- Legally constituted for-profit businesses with their principal place of business in the MRC du Rocher-Percé
- Cooperatives recognized as social economy enterprises
- Non-profit organizations recognized as social economy enterprises
- Private companies (except those in the financial sector and other explicitly excluded industries)
- Businesses whose economic activities generate direct economic benefits and jobs in the MRC du Rocher-Percé (even if the head office is outside the MRC)
Who is not eligible
- Private financial sector companies and financial cooperatives.
- Businesses registered on the Register of Enterprises Not Eligible for Public Contracts (RENA).
- Bars, video clubs, arcades, franchises (such as Tim Hortons, McDonald's, etc.), flea markets, pet breeding businesses.
- Trucking and taxi companies, travel agencies or websites, home product distribution, tattooing and piercing, vaping.
- Companies in the cannabis and industrial hemp industry related to recreational products, unlicensed products, or additional cannabis-derived products such as edibles, topicals, concentrates, tinctures, or capsules.
- Private companies operating solely in retail and restaurant sectors (except for proximity services in underserved communities).
- State-owned companies or those majority-owned by a government, including municipalities and organizations managing government programs.
- Companies involved in armaments, fossil fuel (unless for low-carbon transition), gambling, violent sports, sexual exploitation, or tobacco/drug sales and services.
- Businesses primarily involved in real estate management and development (except for projects improving tenant living conditions).
- Companies under bankruptcy or insolvency protection or with a significant ethical or legal compliance breach.
Eligible expenses
- Capital expenditures such as acquisition of land, buildings, equipment, machinery, and rolling stock.
- Costs for incorporation and similar administrative expenses for establishing an entity.
- Acquisition of technologies, including know-how, licenses, manufacturing agreements, patents, software, and similar technology-related expenditures.
- Working capital strictly related to business operations, calculated for the first year for some programs and up to two years for others.
- Acquisition costs of shares, ownership interests, or business assets (in the context of business acquisition or succession).
- Professional fees directly tied to the project (e.g., for expansion, diversification, analysis, or feasibility), including consulting, expertise, or external audits when justified as part of the project.
- Salaries and social charges specifically dedicated to the realization of a specific time-limited project (for certain NPOs and organizations).
- Costs for the acquisition of technology solutions, software, or business management tools necessary for the project.
- Other direct costs inherent to the planning and completion of the approved business project.
Eligible geographic areas
- Businesses and organizations established on the territory of the MRC du Rocher-Percé (Québec).
Eligibility criteria of the MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) program
- Economic viability and long-term profitability of the project.
- Demonstrated market potential and competitive positioning.
- Potential for job creation or employment retention in the territory.
- Alignment with the strategic priorities and development objectives of the MRC.
- Efforts made to secure complementary funding from other partners or sources.
How to apply to the MRC du Rocher-Percé — Investment Fund (FLI) and Local Solidarity Fund (FLS) program
1
Initial contact and eligibility check
- Contact the economic development advisor at the MRC
- Obtain and complete the official fund application form
- Ensure your project and business satisfy basic eligibility criteria
2
Prepare and collect required documents
- Gather all required documents according to business type: business plan or opportunity file for startups, succession plan for takeovers, or executive summary and financial statements for businesses over two years old
- Prepare three-year financial forecasts
- Assemble any other supporting documentation required for thorough analysis
3
Submit application to the MRC
- Submit the completed application form and supporting documents to the economic development advisor at the MRC
- Submission can be done in person, by email, or by mail
4
Project analysis and preliminary evaluation
- The MRC conducts a preliminary eligibility check and analyzes the project's financial, qualitative, and entrepreneurial potential
- The applicant may be invited to a meeting and site visit
- MRC may issue a conditional letter of financial collaboration, if needed
5
Committee decision and council approval
- The investment committee reviews the application and makes a funding decision in accordance with current policy
- The results are submitted for council approval if required
6
Sign the protocol agreement
- A protocol agreement is signed between the MRC and the beneficiary
- The agreement defines the terms and modalities for the payment of financial support
Additional information
- Recipients of financial support are required to maintain their business location within the MRC du Rocher-Percé for a specific period following grant or loan approval, or repay funds proportionally if this condition is not met.
- A protocol agreement outlining the terms and obligations of the financial support must be signed before any funds are disbursed.
- On projects involving new construction, renovation, or major equipment acquisition, specific funding limits and reimbursement formulas apply and may require additional documentation.
- All funded projects must provide permanent visibility for the MRC du Rocher-Percé, following the MRC's visibility policy.
Contact MRC du Rocher-Percé
dpitre@rocherperce.qc.ca