Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Who is eligible for the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit program?

To be eligible for the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit program, you must: • SME located in an RCM outside Greater Montréal where English-speakers are over 5% of the population

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit?

You can contact Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED).

Q: Where is the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit available?

The Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit program is available the province of QC.

Last Update: August 20, 2025

QC, Canada

Funding for Quebec SMEs promoting official languages

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : November 2, 2020

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Professional, scientific and technical services
Other services (except public administration)

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

Get a repayable contribution to cover up to 50% of the costs of a project that supports the economic development of an official-language minority community in Quebec through a range of activities.

Financing terms and conditions

For SMEs: Financial assistance generally up to 50% of authorized costs, repayable without interest, with repayment beginning two years after project completion.
For NPOs: Non-repayable financial assistance generally up to 90% of authorized costs.

Activities funded

Development of strategies such as market studies, action plans, or business intelligence for economic growth in official language minority communities.
Facilitation of networking and business contacts to support entrepreneurship within these communities.
Provision of information, consulting, and support services for business development.
Implementation of commercialization strategies, including product or service design and market access initiatives.
Development, modernization, or expansion of facilities and acquisition of innovative equipment or IT solutions.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 35,000

Design and launch an online platform to support French-speaking artisans

$ 50,000

Modernize a manufacturing facility to enhance bilingual employee training programs

$ 70,000

Expand a community center to provide more French-language services

$ 35,000

Implement a digital marketing strategy for a Francophone bookstore

$ 35,000

Develop a bilingual business consulting service to support local startups

$ 80,000

Recruit bilingual healthcare professionals to launch a French clinic

Eligibility

The applicant must be a for-profit SME located in a Regional County Municipality (RCM) outside the Greater Montréal region where English-speakers make up more than 5% of the total population, or a non-profit organization (NPO) in an RCM with more than 500 English-speakers.
The applicant’s project must support the economic development of an official language minority community (OLMC).
The project should align with the objectives of the Economic Development Initiative – Official Languages and demonstrate economic benefits for the OLMC.

Who is eligible?

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a regional county municipality (RCM) outside the Greater Montréal region where English-speakers comprise more than 5% of the population
Non-profit organizations (NPOs) in an RCM with more than 500 English-speakers

Who is not eligible

Retail businesses (e.g., clothing stores, grocery stores, automobile sales and maintenance outlets)
Food services (e.g., restaurants and cafés)
Transportation services
Housing construction companies
Daycare services, hair and beauty salons, nightclubs, bars and cabarets

Eligible expenses

Development of strategies including studies, diagnoses, or action plans.
Business networking and contact activities.
Information, consulting, and support services costs.
Design of products and services for commercialization.
Acquisition of equipment, IT tools, and technologies.
Facility development, construction, modernization, or expansion expenses.
Costs related to recruitment or use of specialized resources to promote official languages.

Eligible geographic areas

SMEs located in a regional county municipality (RCM) outside the Greater Montréal region of Quebec where English-speakers comprise more than 5% of the total population.
NPOs established in a Quebec RCM with more than 500 English-speakers.

Selection criteria

Economic benefits for an official language minority community (OLMC).
Contribution of the project to the Initiative’s objectives and expected results.
Alignment with Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions' (CED) mandate and priorities.
Demonstration of financial need and the incentive nature of the assistance, considering other available funding sources.
Proponent’s management capacity, business or organizational viability, risk level, impact on competition, and availability of CED funding.

How to apply

Consultation of resources

Consult the Project Presentation Guide available on the DEC website.
Access the resources and tools provided by DEC to guide the project preparation.

Communication and additional information

Contact DEC for more information on eligibility and the application process.

Preparation of the application file

Develop and structure your project taking into account the analysis criteria such as economic impacts and project viability.
Ensure that your project aligns with the mandate and priorities of DEC.
Gather all required documents, such as action plans, market studies, and financial forecasts.

Project Presentation

Strictly follow the instructions in the Presentation Guide to write and format all elements of your application.

Submission of the request

Contact DEC to find out the specific method for submitting files (mail, email, or online portal).
Submit the entire file according to the submission method required by DEC.

Additional information

Additional resources such as strategic plans, project guides, and toolkits are available to support applicants.
Applicants can subscribe to newsletters to receive updates, advice, and services from CED.
Client feedback on CED services is encouraged through a client satisfaction mechanism.
CED promotes transparency and offers departmental publications and success stories for reference.

Documents and links

Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Official Languages Economic Development Initiative in Quebec — For-profit. 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.