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?

For-profit businesses established and operating in Quebec Located in a municipality with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants Not engaged in excluded sectors (e.g., financial sector, cannabis industry)

Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores

Last Update: May 30, 2025

QC, Canada

Supports local commerce vitality in small Quebec communities

Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores at a glance

Eligible Funding

From $10,000 to $150,000
Up to 60% of project cost

Timeline

Open Date : February 24, 2025
Closing date : April 11, 2025

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Retail trade

Grant Providers

Gouvernement du Québec

Status

Closed

Overview of the Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores program

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.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum financial assistance per project is $150,000.
Minimum grant amount per project is $10,000.
Funding covers up to 60% of eligible expenses for for-profit businesses and up to 75% for social economy enterprises, with increased rates (70% and 85%) for certain remote municipalities.
Total government assistance may not exceed 80% of the project cost (85% for remote municipalities), with a mandatory minimum contribution from the applicant and partners of 20% (15% for remote areas), including a minimum cash contribution.
Funding is non-recurring and is provided for a maximum duration of three years per project.

Eligible projects & activities

Establishing new convenience stores that provide essential daily products to local communities.
Maintaining existing convenience stores to ensure continued access to basic goods and services.
Expanding or enhancing the range of essential products and services offered by local convenience stores.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 125,000

Create a local co-op for construction materials supply

$ 150,000

Upgrade grocery store to enhance food accessibility

Eligibility criteria of the Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores program

The applicant must be a for-profit business or a social economy enterprise (such as a cooperative or non-profit organization defined under Quebec legislation).
The business must be established and operate in Quebec.
The project must be implemented in a municipality in Quebec with fewer than 20,000 residents.
The project must seek to establish, maintain, or enhance access to goods and services provided by a convenience-type retail business (including access to food, building materials, regular consumer goods, or fuel).

Who is eligible?

For-profit businesses established and operating in Quebec
Social economy enterprises, such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations defined under Quebec's Social Economy Act

Who is not eligible

Municipal organizations.
Non-profit organizations that are not social economy enterprises.
Government ministries, budget-funded agencies, Crown corporations, and companies controlled directly or indirectly by a provincial or federal government or Crown corporation.
Private financial sector businesses and financial cooperatives.
Companies involved in the production or commercialization of cannabis.
Businesses listed in the Register of Enterprises Ineligible for Public Contracts (RENA), including their subcontractors listed in RENA.
Companies in bankruptcy or under creditor protection laws.
Businesses that have failed to meet prior financial aid obligations with Quebec government departments or agencies in the past two years.

Eligible expenses

Working capital replenishment when part of starting or restructuring the business, if supported by the local MRC's economic development service.
Costs for the use or rental of equipment, materials, buildings, or land.
Acquisition, design, adaptation, delivery, and installation costs for equipment or materials.
Construction costs for a new building.
Costs for acquisition, improvement, or adaptation of a premises, building, or land.
Direct labour costs related to activities for project implementation, proportional to their project-related involvement.
Promotion and advertising expenses directly related to the project.

Eligible geographic areas

Municipalities in Quebec with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants.

Eligibility criteria of the Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores program

Consistency of the project with the program’s objectives.
Importance for the development or maintenance of local service offerings and alignment with the needs of the local community.
Technical and financial feasibility of the project (e.g., quality of financial plan, applicant's capacity to complete the project).
Consideration of competition (the project should not overlap with existing commercial offerings in the territory).
Alignment with sustainable development principles and integration of practices that support durability and environmental responsibility.

How to apply to the Regions and Rurality Fund — convenience stores program

Preliminary preparation

Check the eligibility of your project, company, and territory according to the criteria mentioned in the guide.
Contact the economic development service of your MRC to receive personalized support.

Gathering of documents

Develop a clear description of your project that complies with the analysis and prioritization criteria.
Prepare the financial structure of the project including the breakdown of costs and sources of funding.
Provide a demonstration of the company's ability to execute the project.
Attach any necessary resolution from the legal entity or letters of commitment or intent from partners.

Submission of the request

Access the online form via the website of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Submit the application and the required documents during the appropriate call for projects period (for example, from October 1 to November 29, 2024, for the first call for projects).

Waiting for the decision

Receive the written notification of the decision from the ministry after the evaluation of the projects.
If the project is accepted, initiate the necessary administrative procedures for the signing of the grant agreement.

Additional information

Two initial application periods are scheduled: from October 1 to November 29, 2024, and from February 24 to April 11, 2025; a third period is planned for autumn 2025.
The program will end on March 31, 2027, or earlier if all allocated funds are exhausted.
The ministry may request additional documentation, such as a business plan or financial statements, during the evaluation process.
It is strongly recommended to seek personalized support from your MRC's economic development service before submitting an application.