Social Economy Support Fund

Q: How much funding can be received?

Social Economy Support Fund Funds up to 80% of admissible expenses, capped at $20000 per project.

Q: What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Q: Is the Social Economy Support Fund a grant, loan, or tax credit?

Social Economy Support Fund is a Grant and Funding

Q: Who are the financial supporters of the Social Economy Support Fund?

Social Economy Support Fund is funded by Social Economy Mauricie

Q: Who is eligible for the Social Economy Support Fund program?

To be eligible for the Social Economy Support Fund program, you must: • Must be a social economy enterprise (cooperative or non-profit with a commercial component) in Mauricie • Must not be insolvent or under financial restructuring • Project must have a collective impact and comply with social economy principles

Q: Who can I contact for more information about the Social Economy Support Fund?

You can contact Social Economy Mauricie by email at accompagnement@esmauricie.ca.

Q: Where is the Social Economy Support Fund available?

The Social Economy Support Fund program is available the province of QC.

Q: Are startups eligible for the Social Economy Support Fund program?

Yes, startups are eligible to apply for the Social Economy Support Fund program.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

QC, Canada

Non-repayable financial aid supporting social economy projects in Mauricie

At a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $20,000
Up to 80% of project cost

Timeline

Unspecified

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Information and cultural industries
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Arts, entertainment and recreation
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Funds Providers

Unspecified

Program status

Open

Overview

The Social Economy Support Fund offers financial assistance of up to $20,000 per year to support collective projects in Mauricie, including startup, innovation, training, as well as the development or expansion of social economy businesses. This program aims to encourage the emergence and growth of collective enterprises through the realization of structuring, innovative, and collectively focused projects.

Financing terms and conditions

Maximum financial support of $20,000 per year, up to a total of $40,000 for projects lasting up to two years.
Up to 80% of eligible expenses covered for start-up and development projects.
Up to 50% of eligible expenses covered for innovation and training projects.
Up to 30% of eligible infrastructure expenses covered.
Total public funding for a project cannot exceed 80% of eligible expenses.

Activities funded

Launching and developing new collective businesses in the social economy sector.
Initiating and implementing innovative projects that foster social innovation or new product development within social enterprises.
Supporting the consolidation, growth, or expansion of existing social economy enterprises through strategic projects.
Carrying out feasibility studies, prototyping, or pilot initiatives to test new business ideas or markets.
Undertaking projects aimed at digital modernization or improving organizational infrastructure to enhance viability and community impact.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 18,500

Modernizing the digital infrastructure of a community recycling centre

$ 15,000

Feasibility study for a community kitchen and event space

$ 18,000

Expanding local food delivery service for isolated seniors

$ 20,000

Developing a mobile app for community carpooling and ridesharing

$ 18,000

Prototyping accessible sports equipment for people with disabilities

$ 20,000

Launching a zero waste grocery collective with local suppliers

Eligibility

The applicant must be a social economy enterprise (cooperative or non-profit organization with commercial activities) located in Mauricie.
Non-profit organizations must have a project aimed at developing a commercial activity.
Promoter groups planning to start a social economy enterprise in Mauricie are eligible.
The applicant organization or enterprise must not be insolvent or undergoing financial restructuring.
The project must be collective in nature, have defined start and end dates, deliver measurable results, and respect the principles of the social economy.

Who is eligible?

Social economy enterprises in Mauricie (cooperatives and non-profit organizations with a commercial component)
Non-profit organizations in Mauricie with projects aimed at developing commercial activities
Promoter groups with a project to start a social economy enterprise in Mauricie

Who is not eligible

Enterprises or organizations deemed insolvent or under financial restructuring.
Organizations whose projects serve exclusively their own interests and are not considered collective in nature.
Companies or initiatives with religious, political, or sexual purposes, or those involving the sale of alcohol, or activities that could generate controversy.
Projects duplicating the roles or activities of existing social economy enterprises or organizations, unless proven to be concerted and complementary in the territory.
Organizations conducting activities already regulated by existing government programs, policies, laws, or regulations.

Eligible expenses

Professional fees and salaries for personnel dedicated to the project.
Direct costs for planning, studies, feasibility analyses, and project activities.
Purchase or rental costs of tools, infrastructure, and equipment required for the project.
Acquisition costs of land or capital assets related to the project.
Development and marketing expenses, including mentoring, communications, and promotional materials.
Costs related to intellectual property (such as patents).
Travel, meals, and accommodation expenses directly linked to the project.
Training fees and participation or registration costs for relevant activities and materials.
Costs for digital development and upgrades (e.g., websites, applications, multimedia tools).
Infrastructure work that positively impacts the viability or revenue of the organization.
Operating expenses directly related to project start-up, for a maximum of 6 months and up to 10% of the total project costs.

Eligible geographic areas

Mauricie region, Quebec

Selection criteria

Collective impact and concertation of the project within the community.
Achievement of tangible and measurable results within a defined timeframe.
Complementarity with existing local initiatives and funding sources, without duplication or substitution.
Alignment with the principles and structuring nature of social economy.
Viability and long-term sustainability of the project.

How to apply

Identify funding opportunity

Identify the relevant call for projects by the Social Economy Support Fund
Review the program guidelines and eligibility criteria

Prepare application documents

Gather required documents (application form, board resolution, financial statements, administrators list, partner letters)
Prepare a detailed project description including objectives, expected outcomes, impact for the community, project cost breakdown and funding structure

Submit application form

Submit the completed application form and documents to the Social Economy Pole of Mauricie (info@esmauricie.ca)

Receive acknowledgment of receipt

Receive acknowledgment of receipt of the application

File review and eligibility check

The Social Economy Pole reviews the file for completeness
Pre-analysis of project eligibility according to program guidelines

Committee review and recommendations

The project is analyzed by advisory and steering committees
Recommendations and possible requests for justification or revision are made to the applicant

Acceptance or refusal notice

Receive notification of acceptance or refusal

Sign the funding agreement

Sign the funding agreement detailing the project conditions with the Social Economy Pole of Mauricie

Additional information

Applications are accepted on a continuous basis; the analysis process may take up to four months, especially during the summer or when there is a high volume of submissions.
The fund managers reserve the right to limit the number of approved applications and adjust grant amounts based on the available budget.
If the project is eligible for another grant program, the application may be redirected to the appropriate agency.
Any project modification after funding approval requires re-evaluation and approval by the fund's managing committee.

Contacts

accompagnement@esmauricie.ca

Apply to this program

Frequently Asked Questions about the Social Economy Support Fund Program

Here are answers to the most common questions about the Social Economy Support Fund. This section explains what the program is, how much funding is available, eligibility requirements, application deadlines, and other important details to help you determine if this grant is right for your business.