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QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC)

Supports regional economic diversification and local development

Offered by
Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)
Official source: canada.ca

Source change captured

Funding available
Up to 90% of project cost
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Quebec, Canada
Who can apply
Non-profit organizations (NPOs)
See full eligibility

Overview

Diversify your economy, part of the QEDP, supports SMEs, NPOs and other organizations in Quebec with up to 50% repayable funding for SMEs and up to 90% non-repayable funding for NPOs to promote regional economies. Eligible projects include international tourism marketing, acquisition of community economic facilities, and production equipment or expert services for local entrepreneurship.

At a glance

Funding available

Maximum share of project costs
90%
Financing goals
  • Increase social or community impact
  • Automate business operations
  • Increase production or service capacity
  • Develop a new product or service
  • Increase operational productivity
  • Conduct research and development activities
  • Optimize production processes
  • Access new markets
  • Reach a new target audience
  • Launch or market a product/service
  • Renovate or expand facilities
  • Conduct research or evaluation activities
  • Renovate or adapt facilities

Eligible candidates

Location
  • Quebec
Eligible Industries
All industries
Annual revenue
All revenue ranges
Organisation size
All organization sizes
Audience
  • Rural or Northern Residents
  • Startups
Legal structures
Non-profit, Public or Parapublic institution, Non-financial cooperative, For-profit business
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
Economic, Social and Community Development, Business Associations
Target groups
Indigenous peoples, Rural / Remote communities, Business owners / entrepreneurs, Artists / creatives
Scope
Local, Municipal, Regional

Start applying for this program

Take a practical assessment to gain a clear understanding of how well this program aligns with your specific needs and long-term goals.

Availability timeline

2026
Periods: 1

Latest changes

Grant changed: contact or portal details, application process

Changed: contact or portal details, application process, funding terms.

See more

We detected changes to contact or portal details, application process, funding terms, eligibility, scope and target audience.

Official source: canada.ca
September 18, 2026

Eligibility

Who is eligible?

  • Non-profit organizations (NPOs)
  • Economic development organizations, business associations, and organizations tasked with attracting international organizations and foreign investment
  • Municipalities and regional county municipalities (RCMs)
  • Local businesses and co-ops
  • Indigenous organizations

Who is not eligible

  • Retail businesses, such as clothing stores, grocery stores or automobile sales and maintenance outlets
  • Food services, such as restaurants and cafés, transportation services, housing construction, and daycare services
  • Hair and beauty salons
  • Nightclubs, bars and cabarets

Eligible expenses

  • All costs directly related to the project that are deemed reasonable by CED and essential to the implementation of the project

Ineligible Costs and Activities

  • All non-essential costs not directly related to the project
  • The refinancing of an existing debt
  • The purchase of an asset at a price that exceeds its fair market value
  • Amortization expenses
  • Goodwill costs

Eligible geographic areas

  • economically vulnerable RCM
  • Montréal’s East End
  • one of the RCMs targeted by CED because it is experiencing slow economic growth

Activities funded

  • Implementation of a commercialization strategy, including development of promotional tools and participation in events
  • Development and enhancement of tourist attractions, festivals, sporting events and cultural productions
  • Specifications, studies, diagnoses or action plans in response to economic issues raised by the community
  • Acquisition of community facilities or implementation of infrastructure to promote local economic development
  • Acquisition of production equipment, hiring of experts or professionals, marketing of products and services, and enhancement of the capacity to innovate and develop new products or processes

How to apply

  • Read the guidelines for this program carefully.
  • If you wish to submit a project for collective economic equipment, contact CED.

Selection criteria

  • The expected results of the project
  • The viability of the business or organization
  • The technical and financial management capacity and the degree of risk
  • The contribution of partners in terms of financial resources or professional services
  • For projects involving community economic facilities, whether the project benefits a number of users, is a regional priority, fits in with the region’s development approach, and is carried out in one of the RCMs targeted by CED because it is experiencing slow economic growth

Additional information

  • The program is part of the Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP).
  • Applicants that are ineligible are directed to CED’s network of partners in their region who may be able to help.

Contacts

1-800-561-0633

Official sources

canada.ca

Program guide

Quebec Economic Development Program (QEDP)
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Frequently Asked Questions about the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) Program

What is the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC)?

Diversify your economy, part of the QEDP, supports SMEs, NPOs and other organizations in Quebec with up to 50% repayable funding for SMEs and up to 90% non-repayable funding for NPOs to promote regional economies. Eligible projects include international tourism marketing, acquisition of community economic facilities, and production equipment or expert services for local entrepreneurship.

How much funding can be received?

QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) Funds up to 90% of admissible expenses.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who is eligible for the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) program?

To be eligible for the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) program, you must: Eligible projects can boost spending by tourists from outside Quebec. Eligible projects can increase the presence of international organizations or strengthen regional economic activity through local business projects. Projects involving community economic facilities must be carried out in one of the RCMs targeted by CED because it is experiencing slow economic growth.

What expenses are eligible under QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC)?

All costs directly related to the project that are deemed reasonable by CED and essential to the implementation of the project

Who can I contact for more information about the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC)?

You can contact Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) or by phone at 1-800-561-0633.

Where is the QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) available?

The QEPD — Diversify your economy - CED (QC) program is available the province of Quebec.