RCM Vallée-Du-Richelieu — Fonds d'appui à l'entrepreneuriat collectif (FAEC)​

• The applicant must be a collective enterprise, such as a non-profit or cooperative, or a group promoting collective entrepreneurship.
• The project must be focused on launching a new social economy enterprise, implementing an eligible project within an existing eligible company, or strengthening an existing enterprise.
• The enterprise or project must be located within the territory of the MRC de La Vallée-du-Richelieu (MRCVR).
• The project must demonstrate an innovative character and address recognized or prioritized local needs.

Who is eligible?

• New or existing social economy enterprises (collective entrepreneurship)
• Eligible non-profit organizations
• Promoter groups proposing innovative collective entrepreneurship projects

Who is not eligible

• Companies that are not part of the social economy or are not collective enterprises.
• Organizations not undertaking innovative projects responding to recognized and prioritized local needs.

Eligible expenses

• Acquisition of equipment, technologies, land, or buildings directly related to the project.
• Construction, expansion, renovation, or fit-out of premises and land.
• Purchase of machinery and vehicles necessary for the project.
• Additional working capital directly and reasonably required for project execution, for up to two years.
• Professional fees related to feasibility studies, external audits, impact studies, and preliminary activities essential to the project.
• Professional fees strictly and directly involved in the implementation of the project, such as technology, equipment, or machinery integration, as well as acquisition, construction, renovation, or arrangement of land and premises.

Eligible geographic areas

• Beloeil
• Carignan
• Chambly
• McMasterville
• Mont-Saint-Hilaire
• Otterburn Park
• Saint-Antoine-sur-Richelieu
• Saint-Basile-le-Grand
• Saint-Charles-sur-Richelieu
• Saint-Denis-sur-Richelieu
• Saint-Jean-Baptiste
• Saint-Marc-sur-Richelieu
• Saint-Mathieu-de-Beloeil

• Link with the axes and intervention priorities as well as with the existing plans and policies at the MRC of Vallée-du-Richelieu.
• Feasibility and realism of the proposed project.
• Importance of the socioeconomic benefits, particularly in terms of job creation and consolidation.
• Capacity of the promoter to carry out the project.
• Quality of the mission and social utility, governance, territorial and sectoral anchoring, market stability and operations, human resources, sustainable development, and financial viability of the project.

• The annual budget for the program is determined each year by the MRCVR Council.
• Recipients benefit from both financial assistance and technical support provided by the MRCVR team.
• Accompaniment is available to help applicants develop their project, business plan, and search for financing.
• Priority is given to innovative projects that respond to recognized community needs.