How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 60% of admissible expenses, capped at $150000 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The program is accepting continuous intake

Who are the financial supporters of the Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores?

Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores is funded by Gouvernement du Québec

What are Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores's eligibility criterias?

The applicant must be a for-profit business or a social economy enterprise, such as a cooperative or a non-profit organization as defined by the Loi sur l’économie sociale. All eligible enterprises must be established and operating within Quebec.

Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores

QC, Canada

Supports local commerce vitality in small Quebec communities

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grant_single|openingDateOctober 1, 2024
grant_single|closingDateNovember 29, 2024

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Grant and Funding

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Retail trade

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Gouvernement du Québec

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The "Fonds Régions et Ruralité" grant aims to support local businesses in municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants in Québec by providing funding of up to $150,000 per business. Eligible activities include establishing, maintaining, or enhancing businesses that offer essential goods like food and construction materials to ensure community vitality.

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This grant offers various financing modalities to support convenience stores in rural regions of Quebec. The conditions ensure that funds are allocated effectively to projects that promote local commerce.

The maximum financial assistance per convenience store project is $150,000, with a minimum grant of $10,000.
The grant can cover up to 60% of eligible expenses for for-profit businesses and up to 75% for social economy enterprises.
For projects in municipalities within the fifth quintile or certain remote areas, the grant can cover up to 70% for for-profit businesses and up to 85% for social economy enterprises.
The cumulative government funding received must not exceed 80% of the total project cost for for-profit businesses and 85% for social enterprises in designated areas.
At least 20% of the project's cost must be covered by the applicant and any partners, with 10% of this contribution being in the form of actual cash (5% for designated areas).
Contributions from the Business Development Bank of Canada and similar agencies are considered private funding if they provide market-level terms.

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This grant supports the establishment, maintenance, or enhancement of local convenience stores to ensure community access to essential goods and services. The eligible projects are centered around ensuring geographical availability of food and basic consumer goods tailored to community needs.

Initiatives improving geographical access to food products.
Projects for providing construction materials, everyday consumer goods, or fuel.
Efforts to enhance long-term viability of existing local convenience services.

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$ 150,000

Upgrade grocery store to enhance food accessibility

$ 125,000

Create a local co-op for construction materials supply

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Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the applicant's profile and business location.

The applicant must be an enterprise operating for profit or a social economy enterprise including cooperatives and non-profit organizations as defined in the Law on Social Economy (RLRQ, chapter E 1.1.1).
The applicant must be established and conducting business activities within Quebec.
The projects must be conducted in municipalities in Quebec with populations less than 20,000.

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The "Fonds Régions et Ruralité" - Local Businesses component is open to for-profit enterprises and social economy businesses such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations, as defined under the Act on the Social Economy in Quebec (RLRQ, chapter E 1.1.1). Eligible businesses must be established and operate in Quebec and carry out projects in municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants. Businesses are encouraged to contact their regional county municipality's economic development service or designated organizations for support before submitting applications.

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This grant excludes certain companies and industries due to their status or main activity. The restrictions ensure that the funding is allocated to businesses that align with the program's objectives.

Municipal bodies.
Non-profit organizations that do not qualify as social economy enterprises.
Government departments, budgetary organizations, and state-owned enterprises mentioned in specific legislative annexes.
Private financial sector companies and their cooperatives.
Companies involved in the production or marketing of cannabis.
Businesses listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors.
Companies that have, in the past two years, failed to meet their obligations related to previously granted financial assistance and were duly notified.
Businesses under the protection of insolvency laws.

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The grant covers specific expenses directly related to the execution of a local business project.

Renflouement of working capital within a startup or business restructuring if supported by the MRC's development service.
Costs of using or renting materials, equipment, buildings, or land.
Costs of acquiring, designing, adapting, delivering, and installing materials or equipment.
Costs of constructing a new building.
Costs of acquiring or improving and adapting a premise, building, or land.
Wages for labor directly involved in activities related to the project's execution, proportional to their assignment.
Promotion and advertising expenses associated with the project.

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The Regions and Rurality Fund, specifically the Retail Stores Component, is targeted at supporting local businesses within certain geographical limits. Eligible businesses must be situated in municipalities with a population of fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in Quebec.

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The evaluation and selection of projects for the Fonds Régions et Ruralité under the Commerces de proximité stream involve a careful assessment based on specific criteria to ensure alignment with the program's objectives.

Coherence of the project with the objective of providing access to local businesses that support community vitality.
Importance of the project for the development or maintenance of services and its alignment with local community needs.
Technical and financial feasibility, including the quality of the financial plan and the applicant's capability to execute the project.
Consideration of competitive impacts, ensuring the project does not undermine existing commercial offerings in the area.
Alignment of the project with sustainable development principles, including minimizing environmental impact.
Viability, ensuring the project meets conditions for service longevity.
Contribution to the territorial vitality through offering essential consumer goods.
Enhancement of access security to essential consumer goods.
Promotion of complementarity in local consumer goods offerings.
Community mobilization, involving local, municipal, and population participation.
Anchoring in the local community through encouraging local purchases.
Innovation, including proposing novel solutions for service delivery and sustainability.
Durability, integrating practices that promote sustainable development.

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Step 1: Review Eligibility
Ensure your business type and project meet the eligibility criteria outlined in the grant guidelines.
Check that your project is located within eligible territories (municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants).
Step 2: Consult Economic Development Services
Contact the economic development service of your MRC for personalized support.
Discuss your project idea and ask for advice and assistance in preparing your application.
Step 3: Prepare Application Materials
Describe your project clearly, ensuring it meets the selection criteria.
Provide project details such as location, financial structure, and personnel responsible.
Include evidence of financial viability and the entity's capability to complete the project.
Gather letters of intent or engagement from partners if applicable.
Prepare a resolution for organizational authorization, if required.
Step 4: Complete Application Form
Access the online application form through the designated government portal.
Fill out all sections of the form with accurate and thorough information.
Attach all required supporting documents as specified in the application guidelines.
Step 5: Submit Application
Ensure all information is complete and verified before submission.
Submit the application electronically before the end of the designated submission period.
Keep a copy of the submission confirmation for your records.
Step 6: Wait for Decision Notification
The Ministry will evaluate your application based on criteria such as project feasibility and implications for the local community.
Await a written decision from the Ministry about the outcome of your application.

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Here are additional relevant details for this grant:

The grant can be combined with other public funding, provided that the maximum funding cap is not exceeded.
A convention of subsidy will be enacted between the applicant and the minister, outlining the terms and conditions of the subsidy disbursement.
A project's minimum financial support is set at $10,000, while a single business can receive a maximum financial aid of $150,000 throughout the program duration.
The financial aid agreement grant can span up to three years from the date of agreement.
The application form must be filled out online and requires various supporting documents as outlined in the Annex.
The program ends either on March 31, 2027, or when the allocated funds are depleted.
Contributions from entities like the Business Development Bank of Canada, if done under market conditions, may count as private rather than governmental contributions.