MT Lab - Project funding — Component 1: Strategic support
Montréal, QC, Canada
The 2024-25 Project Funding Program offers up to 75% financial support for innovative tourism projects in Québec to boost productivity, competitiveness, and sustainable practices.
grant_single_labels|summary
grant_single|eligibleFinancing
- grant_single|fromMinToMax
- grant_single|projectCostPercent
grant_single|deadlines
- grant_single|openingDateJune 25, 2024
- grant_single|closingDateAugust 26, 2024
- grant_single|grantStatusClosed
grant_single|financingType
Grant and Funding
grant_single|eligibleIndustries
- Accommodation and food services
grant_single|grantors
- MT Lab
grant_single|status
grant_card_status|closed
grant_single_labels|preview
The Project Funding Program supports innovative tourism-related projects by offering financial assistance to Quebec-based businesses and organizations. Eligible activities include strategic project development and implementation, with up to 75% of project costs.
grant_single_labels|projects
This grant offers support for strategic initiatives that enhance the capacities and sustainability of tourism businesses in Quebec. Projects eligible for funding must be innovative, address current industry challenges, and offer potential benefits beyond individual enterprises.
- Projects aimed at improving productivity, competitiveness, or efficiency of tourism enterprises.
- Initiatives designed to tackle labor shortages within the tourism industry.
- Efforts to reduce environmental impact and promote sustainable tourism practices.
- Strategic development projects fostering digital transformation in tourism companies.
- Projects encouraging responsible and sustainable tourism, including adaptations to climate challenges.
- Developing systemic changes that can be shared and implemented by other tourism organizations, minimizing future costs and risks.
grant_single|admissibleProjectsExample
$12,000
Implementing a digital ticketing system for the Granby Zoo
$10,500
Creating a farm-to-table culinary experience streets
$9,750
Launching a new eco-friendly hiking trail
$9,000
Introducing a guided indigenous art tour
$11,250
Developing an immersive virtual reality tour for the Old Port of Montreal
$10,875
Developing a mobile app for historical tours
grant_single_labels|admissibility
The eligibility criteria for this grant require that the applicant meets specific conditions related to their operations and registration.
- The applicant must be an enterprise or organization operating in the Quebec tourism industry, or an innovative Quebec tourism enterprise.
- The applicant must be the beneficiary of the project submitted.
- The applicant must have been in operation for more than one year.
- The applicant must hold a Quebec Registration Number (NEQ).
- The applicant must have a website available in French.
- The same enterprise cannot be funded again by a program of the MT Lab financially supported by the Ministry of Tourism for a similar project.
- Applicants in conflict or with potential conflict of interest with MT Lab employees or board members are ineligible.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_can_apply
This grant is intended for companies or organizations operating in the Quebec tourism industry, or innovative tourism businesses in Quebec. Projects can be individual or collective, with the latter involving multiple tourism industry players.
- The applicant must be a Quebec-based tourism company or organization. This includes entities working within the sectors of food services, entertainment and leisure, accommodation, passenger transportation, and travel services.
- The applicant could be either an individual business submitting a project or a party to a collective project gathering multiple businesses.
- The applicant organization should have been operational for more than one year.
- The organization must possess a Quebec business registration number (NEQ) and maintain a website available in the French language.
- The applicant must not be a government-owned corporation, a ministry, or a governmental body from Quebec or Canada.
- Entities should not have conflicts of interest with MT Lab employees or board members.
grant_eligibility_criteria|who_cannot_apply
This grant excludes certain companies and organizations due to their governmental status. The restrictions ensure that funds are allocated to private and innovative tourism enterprises in Quebec.
- Sociétés d'État (Crown corporations).
- Ministries of the government.
- Organizations of the Government of Quebec or Canada.
grant_eligibility_criteria|eligible_expenses
The grant covers the strategic advisory fees for eligible expenses related to project development advisory services.
- Fees for a consulting service firm providing strategic project development support, covering 75% of the fees ranging from $5,000 to $12,000.
grant_eligibility_criteria|zone
The grant covers expenses directly related to project implementation and innovation development.
- Costs for strategic advisory services provided by consulting firms.
- Expenses for project development that are undertaken with the approved strategic methodologies.
- Implementation costs directly tied to innovative project actions.
- Development expenses for innovative product, service, or process enhancements.
- Consulting fees as part of the strategic and project financing components.
grant_single_labels|criteria
The evaluation and selection of projects under the strategic support component are focused on specific criteria that align with the strategic goals of the tourism sector and the priorities identified by the grant program.
- Alignment with industry priorities, such as improving productivity, competitiveness, and efficiency of tourism enterprises.
- Addressing workforce shortages within the tourism industry.
- Initiatives aimed at reducing the environmental footprint of tourism activities.
- Encouraging digital transformation within tourism enterprises.
- Adherence to responsible and sustainable tourism principles.
- Level of risk associated with the project's implementation.
- Innovativeness of the project's processes, procedures, products, or services for the organization.
- Potential benefits to the activity sector or region.
- Enhancement of the organization's productivity.
- Promotion of sustainable transportation methods and support of circular economy transition.
- Development of nature and adventure tourism with an ecotourism approach.
grant_single_labels|register
Here are the steps to submit an application for this grant:
- Step 1: Verify Eligibility
- Ensure your organization is a Québec-based tourism business or organization in one of the eligible sectors: restaurants, leisure and entertainment, accommodation, passenger transportation, or travel services.
- Ensure you have been in operation for more than one year and have a Québec business registration number (NEQ).
- Step 2: Download Necessary Documents
- Access and download the presentation document template and conflict of interest declaration template from the Programme d’innovation touristique website.
- Step 3: Prepare Required Documents
- Complete the presentation document including details about your organization, project description, objectives, innovation aspects, risk assessment, potential for industry replication, timeline, and support service provider.
- Obtain a letter of commitment from your organization’s management confirming budget availability and internal project responsibility.
- Fill out the conflict of interest declaration to ensure none exists with MT Lab’s team, board members, or selected service provider.
- Step 4: Select a Strategic Support Provider
- Choose an expert from the provided database or select an external expert for strategic support.
- Step 5: Financial Preparation
- Ensure your organization can cover 25% of the consultancy fees, up to $3,000.
- Step 6: Fill Out the Application Form
- Complete the application form available for both Volet 1 and Volet 2.
- Step 7: Submit the Application
- Submit the completed application form along with all required documents by the submission deadline via the method specified on the Programme d’innovation touristique website.
- Step 8: Await Confirmation
- After submission, await official communication from the fund provider regarding the status of your application.
grant_single_labels|otherInfo
The grant aims to support innovative tourism projects by offering financial assistance through both strategic support and project financing, with specific eligibility criteria and selection processes.
- Companies can receive up to 75% of the total project cost.
- Support amounts range from $5,000 to $90,000 for individual projects and up to $200,000 for collective projects.
- The initiative encourages collaborative projects to maximize impact.
- Applications will be reviewed by an independent jury of multi-sectoral experts.
- No feedback will be provided on the application's quality.
- Companies can apply for multiple projects but can only be selected once.
grant_single_labels|contact
clement@mtlab.ca
514-876-5284
Apply to this program
Strategic Support for Quebec Tourism Projects
This grant provides substantial financial backing for Quebec-based tourism businesses engaging in strategic project development. Eligible applicants can receive funding covering up to 75% of consulting fees for developing innovative and sustainable tourism solutions.
Exploring the Strategic Support Grant for Tourism Businesses
The Strategic Support Grant is a pivotal initiative aimed at catalyzing growth and innovation within Quebec's tourism sector by covering a significant portion of consultancy fees. Businesses operating in any of the five key sectors—restaurants, leisure and entertainment, accommodation, passenger transport, and travel services—within the tourism industry can benefit from this funding to pursue strategic project development. By providing this financial support, the grant encourages tourism companies to partner with expert consultants and strategically realign their operations, ensuring they meet modern challenges such as labor shortages and the need for digital transformation.
The grant prioritizes projects tackling pressing industry themes like enhancing productivity, boosting competitiveness, and adopting sustainable practices. By targeting these areas, the grant not only helps businesses improve their individual prospects but also supports the broader goal of strengthening Quebec’s tourist industry as a whole. Additionally, the emphasis on collaborative projects invites multiple organizations to come together under a shared vision, leveraging collective strengths to maximize their impact and reach across the sector.
Eligibility is primarily for organizations that have been operational for over a year, with an official Quebec registration (NEQ). This ensures that the funding targets well-established players committed to long-term development and who have already demonstrated sustainability within their operations. Furthermore, the grant is deliberately structured to exclude government entities, ensuring that funds are directed to private sector initiatives.
Those seeking this strategic backing should note that they must be able to fund the remaining 25% of the consultancy fees themselves, highlighting the program’s focus on supporting but also challenging businesses to invest in their growth. This financial arrangement supports an inclusive approach where businesses invest in their future, enhancing their commitment to the project's success.
To apply, businesses are required to submit comprehensive documentation, including a detailed project proposal and supporting evidence of their financial readiness and lack of conflict of interest with the MT Lab's team. This rigorous application ensures that funded projects are viable, sustainable, and capable of contributing significantly to the tourism ecosystem.
Overall, the Strategic Support Grant serves as a catalyst for innovation within Quebec's tourism industry, offering both financial resources and strategic guidance. This multifaceted approach helps businesses embrace new trends, address critical industry challenges, and enhance their competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market. By fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement, the grant paves the way for a dynamic and resilient tourism sector in Quebec.