MRC Portneuf — Business Support Fund

• Business plan.
• Project financial information.
• Promoters' CVs and personal financial statements.
• Proof of funding and partner authorizations.
• Municipal and government authorizations, if required.

Who is eligible?

This grant is available to individuals aged 18 and above who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, as well as businesses, cooperatives, or non-profit organizations located within the MRC de Portneuf.

• Individuals must be at least 18 years old and Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
• Applicants can be for-profit businesses, cooperatives, or non-profit organizations (social economy) based in the MRC de Portneuf area.
• The business or its main activities must be located within the MRC de Portneuf.

Who is not eligible

• Businesses in excluded sectors listed in Annex A.
• Applicants not in business, except certain CALQ-related cases.
• Applicants registered with RENA.
• Applicants with unresolved obligations from a previous MRC aid.
• Applicants under insolvency or creditor-protection proceedings.

Eligible expenses

The grant covers various eligible expenses that support the creation, transfer, and development of businesses, focusing on capital, operational, and technological needs.

• Expenditures on capital such as land, building, equipment, machinery, and rolling stock.
• Incorporation fees related to business formation.
• Professional fees and expertise costs related to capital and equipment expenses (architect, notary, lawyer, etc.).
• Acquisition of technologies, software, patents, licenses, or manufacturing agreements.
• Working capital needs strictly related to the company's first-year operations.
• Expenditures on acquiring computer equipment and training personnel on IT projects.
• Consultation fees for feasibility studies, market studies, and business diagnostics.
• Costs associated with developing prototypes, including materials and professional fees.
• Expenses for implementing expansion plans include installation fees, legal costs, professional fees, and employee training related to the project.
• Research and development expenses, both internal and external.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Expenses incurred before the official application date.
• Debt servicing and repayment of future loans.
• Regular operating expenses, except for the first year for social economy businesses.
• Expenses related to moving business operations outside the MRC de Portneuf.
• GST/QST amounts recoverable by the applicant.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is targeted at businesses operating within the jurisdiction of the MRC de Portneuf. The fund is specifically aimed at supporting local economic development within this regional county municipality.

• Companies with their headquarters located within the MRC de Portneuf.
• Businesses whose primary activities are conducted within the MRC de Portneuf's service area.

• Eligibility is reviewed by the economic development team before submission.
• The MRC analyzes the file and presents it to the CDSÉ.
• The CDSÉ decides on the MRC's participation and the funding amount.
• The final decision is submitted to the MRC council for approval.
• Approved projects require a protocol of agreement and follow-up after disbursement.

Here are additional relevant details for the grant applicants:

• All awarded projects will require a formal agreement outlining financial aid conditions and promoter obligations, ensuring compliance throughout project completion and for two years post-final disbursement.
• Applicants may only submit one application per 12-month period, except for research and development, allowing one application every 24 months.
• The enterprise headquarters or primary activities must be located within the MRC de Portneuf's territory.
• Funding cannot be used for debt servicing, upcoming debt repayments, or regular operations, with rare exceptions for the first operational year for social economy enterprises, extendable to two years.
• Technical support is provided by the economic development team for business plan analysis before submission to the decision-making committee.
• A project's eligibility is first reviewed by the economic development team before formal submission.
• The MRC reserves the right to reject projects deemed misaligned with its strategic directions.