MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent — Support Fund for Structuring Projects (FSPS)

• Financial assistance is provided in the form of a grant and cannot exceed $35,000 per project for Volet 1.
• Salary and benefits costs are eligible for funding up to 50% of the project's cost, with a maximum of $17,500 per project, unless it is proven that the employee will remain in the same position for at least 12 months post-support.
• For Volet 2, fishers are eligible to receive 50% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of $35,000 and must demonstrate economic impact on the North Shore Lower Coast through their fishing activities.
• The financial aid for Volet 3 covers 50% of the costs for online presence projects, up to a maximum of $5,000 for private companies, and 90% for non-profit organizations.
• For Volet 3 training, promoters can be reimbursed 100% for training expenses up to a maximum of $1,000.
• The financial aid for Volet 2 projects cannot be combined with any other funds or other segments of this fund.
• Major purchases in Volet 2 (e.g., boats or motors) must not be sold within five years following the purchase date.

• The applicant must be registered in the Quebec Enterprise Register and be up to date.
• Eligible entities include municipal organizations, Innu community band councils, cooperatives (except financial), non-profit organizations, educational sector organizations, private or social economy enterprises (except financial), and individuals interested in starting a business.
• The project must be classified as a structuring project that demonstrates growth, has an economic impact, and aligns with the intervention priorities of the MRC.
• Projects in sectors such as fishing, aquaculture, agri-food, tourism and culture, recreation, economic diversification, workforce training, transportation, telecommunications, and environment are prioritized.
• The project must involve youth, families, and the elderly.

Who is eligible?

• Municipal organizations
• Band councils from Innu communities
• Cooperatives (excluding financial cooperatives)
• Non-profit organizations
• Educational sector organizations
• Private companies (excluding financial institutions)
• Social economy enterprises (excluding financial institutions)
• Individuals interested in starting a business

Who is not eligible

• Financial cooperatives.
• Financial enterprises.
• Fishing companies with a NEQ (for Volet 2 only).
• Projects that have already been completed.
• Projects initiated before the signing of the financial assistance agreement.
• Debt financing or loan repayment projects.
• Projects involving existing or completed capital investments.
• Real estate investments (immovable assets).

Eligible expenses

• Salaries and wages for project execution, including mandatory employment costs (MERC) and social benefits, up to 50% of the project cost, with a cap of $17,500 per project, unless conditions on sustained employment are met.
• Professional fees.
• Boats, motors, trailers, and warehouses for fishing projects.
• Modifications to boats, including stabilizers, expansions, or reductions.
• Equipment, including safety equipment (e.g., sonar, radar, GPS, transporters, pumps, survival suits, vests, etc.).
• Nets, traps, buoys (poly float markers), ropes, etc.
• Freezers, provided the applicant has a bait fishing license, with a maximum request of two freezers per project.
• Any other expense deemed essential to the fishing industry.
• Costs associated with creating or enhancing an online presence (websites, social media marketing, e-commerce, Google My Business registration, etc.), with funding covering 50% of costs up to $5,000 for private businesses, and 90% for non-profit organizations.
• Training expenses related to maintaining online tools, fully reimbursable up to $1,000, covering registration fees, materials, and other training-related costs.

Eligible geographic areas

• Municipalité de la Côte-Nord du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent
• Municipalité de Gros-Mécatina
• Municipalité de Saint-Augustin
• Municipalité de Bonne-Espérance
• Municipalité de Blanc Sablon

• The structuring aspect of the project.
• Support for economically disadvantaged areas.
• Creation and maintenance of jobs.
• Community mobilization.
• Project sustainability.

• Step 1: Eligibility DeterminationVerify if your organization or business falls under the eligible categories such as municipal organizations, Innu band councils, cooperatives, non-profit organizations, education sector organizations, private or social economy businesses, or individuals interested in starting a business.
• Step 2: Project StructuringEnsure your project aligns with the intervention priorities such as fishing, aquaculture, agri-food, tourism and culture, leisure, economic diversification, workforce training, transport, telecommunications, and environment.
• Step 3: Prepare Application DocumentsPrepare a detailed project proposal with emphasis on its structuring aspect, its impact on the economy, community involvement, job creation or maintenance, and project sustainability.
• Compile all necessary documentation, including proof of registration with the Quebec Enterprise Register for applicable projects.
• Include budget details highlighting admissible expenses such as professional fees and salaries, within the specified limits.
• Step 4: Application SubmissionSubmit all required documents and your project proposal to the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent.
• Ensure submission before the fund is exhausted, as projects are accepted until fund depletion.
• Step 5: Acknowledgement and Follow-upAwait confirmation of receipt from the MRC.
• Follow up if no confirmation is received within a reasonable timeframe.

• All recipients must demonstrate their commitment to utilizing Quebec-based products or suppliers unless a valid justification for choosing external resources is provided.
• Applicants for the fishing sector must show that their activities contribute directly or indirectly to the economy of the Basse-Côte-Nord region.
• If major purchases such as boats or equipment are involved, they must not be resold within five years of purchase.
• In the online presence and training component, funding is cumulative and can be combined with the general component.