MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Business support (PSE)

• The financial assistance is provided in the form of a non-refundable contribution.
• The financial aid cannot exceed $50,000, up to a maximum of 50% of the total project cost.
• Combined financial support from provincial and federal governments cannot exceed 80% of the total project financing.
• Eligible expenses include acquisition costs of movable and immovable properties, construction, setting up, or implementation of the project.
• Non-eligible expenses include operational deficits, debt repayment, and expenses preceding the project submission date.
• Non-eligible expenses also include those already covered by the Government of Québec, or related to retail or restaurant projects unless providing proximity service.
• No management fees are charged to the promoter, but verification and registration fees, as well as professional fees, are borne by the promoter upon invoice receipt from the MRC.
• If an activity's location moves outside the specified territory within five years, financial assistance will be canceled, and repayment may be required.

• The applicant and/or business must have a valid address in Quebec.
• The applicant must be 18 years of age or older.
• The project must be located within the territory of the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord.
• The applicant must provide a business plan with three-year financial projections, except for certain expertise studies where a project description sheet is required.
• The promoter's share for a startup must be at least 10% of the total project cost. For existing businesses, the equity (net worth) post-project must reach 20%, with some flexibility depending on the quality of the promoters and the project, but not lower than 15%.
• Combined financial aid from provincial and federal governments cannot exceed 80% of the total project funding.
• Service proximity requirements must be met (i.e., not competing with similar businesses within a ten-kilometer radius and essential to community economic development).

Who is eligible?

• Companies with a valid address in Quebec
• Companies or promoters whose projects are located within the territory of the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord
• Service providers offering essential services that support economic development and diversification within the community, provided they do not compete with similar services within a ten-kilometer radius.

Who is not eligible

• Projects in the retail or restaurant sectors, unless they provide a local service.
• Any expenditure supporting a retail or restaurant project not offering a local service.

Eligible expenses

• Costs of acquisition of movable and immovable property.
• Construction expenses.
• Expenses for project development or implementation.

Eligible geographic areas

• Sacré-Cœur
• Tadoussac
• Les Bergeronnes
• Les Escoumins
• Longue-Rive
• Portneuf-sur-Mer
• Forestville
• Colombier
• Communauté innue Essipit

• Viability of the project.
• Creation of value on the territory of the MRC.
• Partnerships with local entities.
• Attractiveness and integration of new arrivals.
• Retention of the population.
• Competency of the promoter and/or management team.
• Competitive environment and market potential.
• Social and environmental impacts.
• Innovation in organization, process, or product.
• Impact of the requested financial aid on achieving project goals.

• Step 1: Gather Required DocumentsComplete the financial aid application form.
• Provide a detailed project description, including timeline and comprehensive business plan with financial forecasts.
• Submit an evaluation of impacts on the economic diversification of La Haute-Côte-Nord.
• Prepare a detailed cost and financing description.
• Submit the personal financial statement of the promoters.
• Include any other relevant documents as necessary.
• If applicable, provide a service offer from a specialized firm for feasibility studies.
• Provide a quote or cost evaluation for municipal projects.
• Step 2: Additional Documents for Existing BusinessesSubmit recent financial statements of the business.
• Include the company’s history and current activity description (products, services, markets, etc.).
• Explain the link between the study project and the organization.
• Provide the address of the business property and its organizational structure.
• Step 3: Application SubmissionEnsure all required documentation is compiled and complete.
• Send the complete application package to the responsible body, the MRC's economic development service.
• Step 4: Confirmation and Follow-UpAwait confirmation of receipt from the MRC.
• Maintain communication with the MRC for any additional information or documents they may require.

• The financial assistance granted is a non-refundable contribution.
• The financial aid cannot surpass $50,000, representing up to 50% of the project's total cost.
• The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MAMH) may request an external sectoral opinion for projects costing $50,000 or more.
• No management fees will be charged to the promoter.
• Verification, registration, or professional fees are the responsibility of the promoter and are payable upon invoice receipt from the MRC.
• Promoters in default of payment to the MRC cannot receive financial assistance.
• If project activities are relocated outside the La Haute-Côte-Nord territory within five years, financial support will be annulled and may be subject to reimbursement.