Petits établissements accessibles
QC, Canada
The Petits établissements accessibles program supports accessibility enhancements for small establishments with financial assistance covering up to 90% of recognized costs.
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Grant and Funding
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- SHQ (SHQ)
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The Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) program aims to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility in small establishments not legally required to adhere to accessibility codes. Through this program, financial assistance is provided to owners and tenants of eligible commercial, business, or meeting venues for carrying out construction work that meets the accessibility requirements of the construction code. Eligible activities include the installation of access ramps, unobstructed pathways to services, and modifications to restroom facilities to accommodate accessibility.
grant_single_labels|projects
The program "Petits établissements accessibles" offers financial assistance to proprietors and tenants of small commercial, business, or assembly buildings to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. Eligible projects include permanent modifications to meet accessibility standards, such as installations and redesigns.
- Installation of ramps or accessible thresholds.
- Creation of designated parking spaces for individuals with reduced mobility.
- Uniform leveling of floors to simplify access.
- Widening of doors and installing automatic door openers.
- Remodeling restroom facilities for adequate maneuvering space and adding technical aids such as grab bars.
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) program aims to enhance accessibility for people with disabilities or reduced mobility in small establishments. The grant provides financial assistance for permanent construction works of buildings that meet certain accessibility requirements outlined in the specific eligibility criteria below.
- The applicant must be a physical or legal person, who is a property owner or tenant of a building, or part of a building, used for commercial, business, or assembly activities.
- Applicants registered in the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics are not eligible.
- The building must house establishments offering on-site services to the public in buildings of no more than two stories, commercial buildings with a total floor area of no more than 300 m², or assembly establishments with a capacity of up to nine people, meeting additional specified conditions.
- Eligible construction works must be permanent, comply with accessibility requirements, and offer simple and economical solutions.
- Construction works must follow a specific priority order, begin post-certification, and align with financial aid conditions without overlap from federal or provincial bodies.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
Yes, this grant is eligible for certain types of companies that are involved in commercial, business, or meeting activities. These companies can benefit from financial support to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.
- Commercial establishments with a total floor area of no more than 300 m², used for the sale of goods or merchandise at retail, such as boutiques and shops.
- Business establishments offering on-site services to the public and located in buildings with no more than two stories, including banks, medical offices, dental offices, and beauty salons.
- Meeting establishments accepting no more than 9 people, including church basements, parish halls, community centers, and small restaurants or cafes.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
Companies that are listed on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics are not eligible for the grant. Additionally, companies that have already received financial assistance from federal or provincial programs for accessibility works are not eligible.
- Companies listed on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics
- Companies that have already received financial assistance from federal or provincial programs for accessibility works
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant supports permanent accessibility improvements in small establishments, excluding works started before approval or funded by other federal or provincial programs. Eligible expenses are focused on enhancing access to, and usability within, the building.
- Addition of a drop-off area, threshold, or access ramp.
- Leveling floors, installing access ramps, widening doors, or adding electric door openers.
- Reconfiguring toilets to ensure adequate maneuvering space, including the addition of support bars or lowering switches.
grant_single_labels|register
- Step 1: Communicate with your municipality or MRC to obtain the application form for participation.
- Step 2: Fill out the application form and attach the required documents. Submit the completed form and documents to your municipality or MRC.
- Step 3: An accredited inspector will determine if your application is eligible and will schedule a visit to the establishment.
- Step 4: The accredited inspector produces the plans and specifications. In some cases, the expertise of an engineer or architect may be required; in such a case, they will draft the plans and specifications.
- Step 5: Based on the plans and specifications, obtain at least two bids from contractors with an appropriate license from the RBQ and transmit them to the accredited inspector.
- Step 6: The municipality or MRC completes your file, and if everything is compliant, will send you a certificate of eligibility indicating the amount you will be entitled to upon completion of the work if all program conditions are met. This document also authorizes you to start the work.
- Step 7: Once the work is completed, the accredited inspector will verify if they were carried out according to the specifications and report to the municipality or MRC. Upon their approval, the sum to which you are entitled will be paid to you.
Apply to this program
Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) Program Overview
The Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) program is designed to enhance accessibility for individuals with disabilities or reduced mobility in small commercial, business, and meeting establishments in Quebec. The program offers financial assistance for modifications to meet accessibility requirements as outlined in the Quebec Construction Code.
Understanding the Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) Program
The Petits établissements accessibles (PEA) program plays a vital role in promoting inclusivity and accessibility within small establishments in Quebec. Established under the Plan économique du Québec of March 2017, the program encourages businesses to foster an accessible environment for all individuals, regardless of their mobility challenges. Below is a comprehensive exploration of its purposes, eligibility criteria, types of work covered, application process, and financial assistance, designed to inform potential applicants and stakeholders interested in enhancing accessibility. The driving force behind the PEA program is the commitment to making everyday environments safer and more navigable for people with disabilities or reduced mobility. In a world where inclusivity is increasingly prioritized, programs like PEA ensure that businesses and meeting establishments are accountable and proactive in catering to the needs of everyone, particularly those who face physical barriers daily. Through this initiative, Quebec seeks to integrate accessibility into urban development, reinforcing its commitment to social equity and human rights.
Program Objectives
The primary objective of the PEA program is to facilitate financial aid towards structural modifications that comply with the accessibility demands of the Quebec Construction Code (RLRQ, chapter B-1.1, r 2). By embarking on such modifications, businesses and meeting places become more accessible to a broader demographic, ensuring that individuals with mobility challenges can access necessary services, participate in social gatherings, and engage with their communities more fully. This program emerges from a deeper recognition that standard accessibility requirements may not comprehensively cover all small establishments due to historical exemptions or the complexities of retrofitting older buildings. Thus, PEA fills a crucial gap by providing financial support specifically targeted at such omitted establishments.
Eligibility Criteria
Understanding who qualifies for the PEA program is crucial for potential applicants. Eligibility criteria are segmented into two main categories: the owner or tenant (the applicant), and the building itself.
Applicant Eligibility
Applications are open to any individual or legal entity owning or leasing a building or a part thereof assigned to commercial, business, or meeting activities. A vital caveat is that applicants appearing on the Registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics (The Registry of Ineligible Enterprises for Public Contracts) are automatically disqualified from the program.
Building Eligibility
Eligibility hinges on the type and size of the establishment: 1. **Business Establishments**: These should provide an on-site service to the public and be housed in buildings with a maximum of two stories. Examples include banks, medical practices, dental offices, accountancy firms, beauty salons, and the like. 2. **Commercial Establishments**: These may have a maximum total floor area of 300 square meters, covering retail spaces such as boutiques, shops, marketplaces, and showrooms engaging in selling. 3. **Meeting Establishments**: These venues should accommodate up to nine people in activities or communal gatherings, including dining locations like restaurants and cafes, and places like church basements or community halls. Certain larger meeting establishments qualify if they meet conditions such as lacking unobstructed access, having areas situated notably above or below the accessible entry level, or when structural modifications like ramps cannot be installed without encroaching public pathways.
Scope of Eligible Work
For financial assistance eligibility, proposed works must be permanent and align with the construction code's accessibility requirements. They should involve straightforward and cost-effective solutions. The program specifies unacceptable projects, such as work commenced before receiving a certificate of eligibility, second access expansion for the same building portion, federally/provincially funded accessibility endeavors, or compliance work unrelated to accessibility. Eligible works fall into three divisions: 1. **Access to the Establishment**: Modifications could include adding a drop-off point, installing thresholds or access ramps, and designating parking spaces for individuals with reduced mobility. 2. **Obstacle-Free Interior Routing**: This might involve floor-level adjustments, incorporating internal access ramps, widening doors, and fitting automatic door openers, all aimed at improving movement access to services and washrooms. 3. **Utilization of Customer Washrooms**: Renovations may aim to enable better maneuverability, install supportive aids (such as grab bars or handrails), declutter vanity spaces, or lower switches for easier access. Furthermore, the work must prioritize completing access-related modifications before internal routing improvements or washroom adaptations.
Application Process
To apply for the PEA program, each step is critical: 1. **Contacting Municipalities or MRCs**: Initiate the application by contacting related local entities to receive the relevant participation form. 2. **Form Submission**: Applicants must thoroughly fill forms, attach necessary documents, and submit them to the applicable municipal body. 3. **Inspection and Planning**: An accredited inspector will assess eligibility, conduct site visits, and, if required, collaborate with engineers or architects for plans and blueprints. 4. **Getting Bids**: Based on the devised plans, applicants need to secure at least two bids from licensed contractors and forward these to the proposed inspector. 5. **Issuance of Eligibility Certificate**: Upon conformance check, municipalities issue a certificate of eligibility, authorizing work commencement and confirming potential reimbursement upon job completion.
Financial Assistance
The PEA program extends a maximum financial aid of $30,000 per eligible establishment, calculated at a 90% aid rate concerning recognized costs. Additionally, should any project have municipal or other financial backing, the total combined assistance should not surpass 90% of the acknowledged expenditure. This grant disbursement occurs post-project completion and under favorable verification by the accredited inspector. In summary, the Petits établissements accessibles program is a crucial initiative for supporting inclusivity and accessibility across vital Quebec establishments, ensuring community-wide accessibility enhancements for individuals with disabilities. Through strategic planning, engagement, and specific eligibility criteria, the program diligently advances its mission towards robust accessibility solutions.
