MRC de Thérèse de Blainville — FLI/FLS

• A complete business plan
• FLI/FLS investment policy document
• PAFE financial assistance application form
• FESEC project submission form
• FESEC 2026 project call document

• The business must be legally constituted under Quebec or Canadian law, or be a collective enterprise such as a cooperative or a non-profit organization (OBNL) operating in the social economy with commercial activities.
• The enterprise must operate within the territory of the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville and have its head office located in Quebec.
• The company must be registered with the Registre des entreprises du Québec (REQ).
• The business must demonstrate economic viability, relevant management experience, and have a clear positive impact on employment and regional economic development.
• The project must be at the commercialization stage or beyond (pre-startup phases are not eligible).

Who is eligible?

• Legally incorporated for-profit companies in Quebec or Canada
• Social economy enterprises (cooperatives and non-profit organizations with commercial activities)
• Manufacturing businesses
• Recreotourism sector enterprises
• Companies in agri-food processing, information technology, or business services with a commercial and industrial character

Who is not eligible

• Companies registered on the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors for the project.
• Businesses that have failed to meet obligations related to previous financial aid from the Ministry or MRC in the past two years.
• State-owned enterprises or companies directly or indirectly controlled by a government (municipal, provincial, or federal) or majority-owned by such entities.
• Companies under bankruptcy protection (Companies’ Creditors Arrangement Act or Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act).
• Businesses involved in sectors such as arms production, fossil fuel extraction and refining (except activities supporting carbon transition), gambling operations, violent games or combat sports involving living beings, sexual exploitation, real estate management and development (except certain projects enhancing tenant living conditions), tobacco or non-approved drug-related industries, and non-authorized recreational or medical cannabis activities.

Eligible expenses

• Additional working capital required for the execution of the project, for up to two years, based on justified and reasonable expenses.
• Capital expenditures strictly and directly tied to the project, such as acquisition of technology, land, buildings, equipment, machinery, or rolling stock, as well as construction, expansion, renovation, or improvement of facilities and premises.
• Professional fees incurred prior to project implementation, including feasibility analyses, external audits, or impact studies.
• Professional fees strictly and directly related to the project, such as technology implementation, equipment and machinery installation, and activities connected to the acquisition, construction, renovation, or improvement of facilities.
• For business succession projects: acquisition costs for company ownership titles (voting shares or units) and assets of the targeted company.
• Professional fees strictly and directly related to the transaction, acquisition, and transfer of business leadership.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Pre-startup projects are not eligible.
• Funding for an individual, without a business project, is excluded.
• Expenses incurred before the application is submitted are not eligible for the FLI.
• Debt service, loan repayment, capital losses, and capital replacement are excluded under the FLI.
• Also excluded, according to the program rules, are activities related to the production or distribution of weapons, games of chance and gambling, sexual exploitation, real estate management and development, as well as the production, sale, or services related to tobacco and drugs, subject to the exceptions provided for cannabis and industrial hemp.

Eligible geographic areas

• Businesses operating within the territory of the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville, Quebec.
• Companies with their head office located in Quebec.

• Economic viability of the business: The project must demonstrate sustainability, profitability, repayment capacity, and strong future prospects.
• Knowledge and experience of the promoters: Promoters must show relevant industry experience and management skills, or have access to the necessary internal or external support.
• Environmental and societal impacts: Projects must contribute to the socio-economic and environmental improvement of the MRC territory by implementing sustainable business practices.
• Openness to employees: The company's approach to labor relations and its openness toward workers are considered in the assessment.
• Participation of other financial partners: The involvement of other capital sources, particularly the minimal participation of a financial institution and promoters’ equity contribution, is strongly encouraged.

• The application is first received by the MRC de Thérèse-De Blainville, which is responsible for processing the files.
• The file is then reviewed on an ongoing basis, once all the required information and documents have been submitted.
• The review takes into account eligibility, budget availability, and compliance with the current management terms and conditions.
• The decision is made by the joint investment committee, within the scope of the mandate provided for the application of the policy.
• If needed, a request for a waiver may be submitted to the relevant bodies according to the applicable investment framework.

• The investment policy became effective as of October 1, 2023, replacing previous versions.
• Annual follow-up fees and file opening fees apply, with specific amounts and refund conditions depending on application outcome.
• The policy outlines a formal mechanism for handling requests for exceptions or amendments, subject to administrative approvals.
• Policy changes must be communicated to the Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) and Fonds locaux de solidarité FTQ, s.e.c.