MRC Joliette — Business Assistance Fund (FAE) – Stream 2

• Completed application form for the relevant funding stream
• Supporting documents required by the CDÉJ to confirm eligibility
• Complete presentation file for the project
• Business plan, including two-year financial forecasts
• Quotes or invoices, where applicable, for eligible expenses

• The applicant must be a social economy enterprise operating within the MRC de Joliette.
• The project must involve the creation, expansion, or recovery of a social economy enterprise.
• The enterprise must have its head office and operations in the MRC de Joliette.
• The project must create or maintain at least one permanent full-time job within 18 months of project start (including the promoter's job).
• The enterprise must generate at least 20% of its revenue from autonomous activities (sales of products or services).

Who is eligible?

• Social economy enterprises
• Non-profit organizations (NPOs) with entrepreneurial activities
• Cooperatives
• Community-based enterprises with an entrepreneurial approach

Who is not eligible

• Companies whose expenses were incurred before the official aid application was received by the CDÉJ.
• Organizations seeking funding strictly for debt servicing, repayment of upcoming loans, or projects that have already been completed (unless part of an approved recovery plan).
• Enterprises that have already received a non-repayable contribution from this program, except for applications related to a recovery plan.

Eligible expenses

• Capital expenses such as land, buildings, equipment, machinery, and rolling stock.
• Acquisition of certain intangible assets including software, business solutions, and patents (excluding research and development activities).
• Development of a credible strategic development or recovery plan prepared by a professional.
• Implementation of a credible recovery plan carried out by a competent resource.
• Development and implementation of a credible communication or promotion plan prepared by a professional.
• For start-up organizations only: working capital needs strictly related to business operations for the first 18 months.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Repayment of debts incurred before the loan requested from the CDÉJ.
• Debts related to a promoter who is the subject of legal proceedings.
• Training fees, business travel expenses, and payment for any type of permit.
• Projects limited to the purchase of rolling stock, such as a truck, car, taxi, moped, or trailer.
• Projects focused on research and development, franchise acquisition, or obtaining a grant or loan solely from another organization.

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations with their head office and operations located within the territory of the MRC de Joliette.

• Social and economic impact within the MRC of Joliette generated by the proposed project.
• Submission of a business plan, or a recovery plan and financial forecasts for two years demonstrating the enterprise's viability or profitability.
• Establishment of realistic pricing and avoidance of unfair competition.
• Diversified funding sources, including monetary, human, and material investments.

• The CDÉJ first validates the project’s, applicant’s, and, where applicable, company’s eligibility based on the submitted documentation.
• Once the file is complete and eligibility is confirmed, the project is reviewed by the investment committee, which meets regularly throughout the year.
• The committee analyzes the project and decides whether to accept or refuse it based on the program’s evaluation criteria.
• Funding is only available if funds are still available.
• If approved, the financial aid is paid only after the conditions set out in a formal agreement have been met; the agreement also defines the parties’ obligations.

• The grant requires that beneficiaries enter into a formal agreement specifying both parties’ obligations and the conditions for disbursement.
• For each loan installment without sufficient funds, a fee of $25 will apply and must be paid immediately.
• Borrowers can accelerate repayment of interest-free loans without any penalty.
• Requests for additional financial statements or account status reports may be made in writing to the managing authority.