MRC Portneuf — Business Support Fund

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

This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their nature or primary activities. The exclusions aim to guide funding towards ventures that align with the MRC's objectives and ethical standards.

• Companies related to gambling, esotericism, and personal growth.
• Pawn shops and pyramid sales businesses.
• Projects with military, discriminatory, sexual, religious, or political themes.
• Commercial representatives and internet site management businesses.
• Businesses involved in real estate management and operation, except structural hotel projects.
• Photography, graphic design, and interior decoration services.
• Secretarial, bookkeeping, and professional consulting services.
• Private daycares and franchises.
• Various service providers like photocopying, animal grooming, and infographics.
• Sectors subject to rigorous analysis, such as landscaping, event organization, and regulated trades.

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.

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.

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.