
MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE)
Last Update: July 22, 2025
QC, Canada
Support for preliminary studies and project implementation expertise
At a glance
Eligible Funding
- Max. $40,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Unspecified
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Professional, scientific and technical services
Funds Providers
Unspecified
Program status
Open
Overview
The MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord's Support for Preliminary Studies and Expertise Funds for Project Implementation (PSEFE) provides non-repayable financial assistance up to $40,000 to eligible organizations for feasibility and pre-feasibility studies. The program aims to advance business projects and resolve development impasses through external expertise.
Financing terms and conditions
- The financial aid is provided as a non-repayable contribution.
- Funding cannot exceed 50% of the total project cost.
- A maximum funding limit of $40,000 is imposed per project.
- Recipients who actualize the project outside La Haute-Côte-Nord within five years must reimburse the received funds.
- Eligible expenses for funding include salaries and professional fees related to project planning, market analysis, concept development, technical and financial feasibility evaluations, and legal aspects of business acquisition.
- Ineligible expenses include costs incurred before the project file's acceptance date, expenditures for non-compliant projects, costs for relocating businesses, retail or restaurant projects (with certain proximity service exceptions), and costs for unused consultancy services.
- Applicants are required to contribute a minimum of 10% of the total project cost as equity funding.
Activities funded
- Studies for business advancement, such as GO/NO-GO, prefeasibility, or feasibility studies.
- Projects overcoming stagnation through external expertise engagement.
Examples of admissible projects:
$ 56,000
Implementing energy-efficient technologies in local schools
$ 45,000
Launching a community co-working space with digital resources
$ 48,000
Initiating a local heritage digital archive project
$ 40,000
Developing an eco-friendly packaging solution for local products
$ 40,000
Creating an online art education platform for children
$ 40,000
Establishing a sustainable urban agriculture project
Eligibility
- The applicant must be a private enterprise, a social economy enterprise (excluding private enterprises in the financial sector), a non-profit organization, or a municipal organization.
- The final project must be realized within the territory of the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord.
- The project must align with regional priorities and the strategic orientations identified by the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord.
- The project should demonstrate an innovative aspect, such as managerial innovation, new processes, new technologies, new value-added products, new markets, or a perspective of territorial development.
- The project should have the potential for successful realization.
Who is eligible?
- Private companies, excluding those in the financial sector
- Social economy enterprises
- Non-profit organizations
- Municipal organizations
Who is not eligible
- Private companies within the financial sector.
- Any promoter in default of payment obligations to the MRC.
- Projects supporting relocation of an enterprise or part of its production outside its local municipality.
- Projects in the retail trade or restaurant sector, except for local service offerings.
Eligible expenses
- Salaries and professional fees related to the development of project plans and studies.
- Assessment of project viability, including market analysis.
- Evaluation of the technical and financial feasibility of a project.
- Definition and refinement of a concept.
- Professional fees for legal assistance in business acquisition.
- Development and refinement of tools or indicators for sectoral measurement, including traffic and economic impact studies related to projects.
Eligible geographic areas
- MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord.
Selection criteria
- The project aligns with regional priorities and strategic orientations identified in the strategic planning of the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord.
- The innovative nature of the project, which includes managerial innovation, new processes, new technologies, new value-added products, new markets, and territorial development prospects.
- The potential for successful completion of the final project.
- The overall quality of the application file.
- The experience and involvement of the promoter(s) and partners engaged in the project.
- The financial situation of the promoter(s).
How to apply
- Step 1: Prepare Application MaterialsDescribe the project in detail, highlighting the need for a preliminary study and providing an implementation timeline.
- Assess the project's impact on the economic diversification of La Haute-Côte-Nord.
- Detail the project's cost and financing structure.
- Include copies of any submitted or approved funding applications.
- Provide a cost estimate, or in the case of a municipality, an evaluation of the costs.
- Attach the latest financial statements if the promoter is active.
- Present the promoter's history, organizational structure, and a brief description of current activities if applicable.
- Step 2: Compile Necessary DocumentationEnsure all necessary documents are collected and organized for submission.
- Verify that all application requirements are met with complete documentation.
- Step 3: Submit ApplicationSubmit the prepared application along with the necessary documentation to the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord's appropriate office or platform as specified in their application guidelines.
Additional information
- The contribution is non-repayable and subject to repayment only if the project is carried out outside the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord within five years following receipt of financial support.
- Immobilized resources include directorate general and the economic development service.
- A personal loan counts toward the promoter's contribution if it is not reimbursed by company funds.
- All investors, including private capital and venture capital firms, must have a full exit plan post-repayment of any local funds' loans to be counted toward promoter contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions about the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE) Program
Here are answers to the most common questions about the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE). This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.
What is the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE)?
How much funding can be received?
What is the deadline to apply?
Is the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Who are the financial supporters of the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE)?
Who is eligible for the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE) program?
Who can I contact for more information about the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE)?
Where is the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE) available?
Are startups eligible for the MRC La Haute-Côte-Nord — Support for preliminary studies and expertise funds for project implementation (PSEFE) program?

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