Saguenay Promotion — FRR – Business Support

• Maximum financial assistance of $20,000 per project.
• Funding cannot exceed 50% of the total eligible project cost.
• The grant amount must not surpass the promoter's cash investment or asset transfer.
• In exceptional cases for major start-up or expansion projects (creation of at least 25 permanent jobs), different amounts and funding requirements may apply.
• Financial aid is non-recurrent for the same project and beneficiary, including subsidiaries.

• The applicant must be a cooperative, a private business, or a social economy enterprise, or an individual intending to start a business.
• The business or project must be located within the territory of the City of Saguenay.
• The applicant must submit a business plan, business model canvas, or project description sheet.
• Promoters must be Canadian citizens, aged 18 or over, and hold a valid Canadian business registration number.
• The project must be aimed at producing goods or services for commercialization and create or maintain at least one full-time direct employment position.

Who is eligible?

• Cooperatives
• Private enterprises
• Social economy enterprises
• Individuals wishing to start a business

Who is not eligible

• Private companies in the financial sector.
• Financial cooperatives.
• Businesses in the real estate sector.
• Companies not located within the city of Saguenay.
• Organizations whose main purpose is protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (such as religion, politics, or rights advocacy).
• Companies listed in the Register of enterprises ineligible for public contracts.
• Businesses that have failed to meet obligations related to previous government grants within the last two years, after formal notice.

Eligible expenses

• Capital expenditures for land, building, equipment, machinery, and vehicles.
• Costs related to incorporation fees or similar legal expenses.
• Acquisition of technologies such as know-how, licenses, manufacturing agreements, patents, software, or similar items.
• Professional fees for studies.
• Job creation expenses for major projects.
• Working capital requirements.

Eligible geographic areas

• Companies located within the territory of the City of Saguenay.

• Viability and profitability of the project.
• Competencies of the project promoters.
• Economic, social, or environmental impacts on the Saguenay territory.
• Investments generated by the project.
• Analysis of market competition to ensure real employment growth.

• Promotion Saguenay reserves the right, in exceptional circumstances, to waive certain eligibility conditions.
• The financial assistance provided is not recurring for the same project, the same beneficiary, or its subsidiaries.
• If a project receives funding from a government program, FRR support may be issued to cover non-funded expenses without exceeding the permitted government aid accumulation.
• A funding agreement must be signed prior to any disbursement of funds.