Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer
Last Update: February 16, 2025
QC, Canada
Supporting sustainable tourism development in Baie-James region
Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer at a glance
Eligible Funding
- From $25,000 to $200,000
- Up to 50% of project cost
Timeline
- Continuous Intakes
Financing Type
Grant and Funding
Eligible Industries
- Arts, entertainment and recreation
- Accommodation and food services
Grant Providers
- Tourisme Baie-James
Status
Open
Overview of the Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer program
The Tourisme Baie-James EPRTNT program offers a maximum funding amount of $200,000 to support the development of a responsible and sustainable tourism offer in the Baie-James region. Eligible activities include the creation of thematic tourism products and the implementation of tourism routes and circuits.
Financing terms and conditions
- The financial intervention provided is a non-refundable financial contribution.
- The project must incur eligible costs of at least $25,000.
- The maximum financial intervention amount is $200,000 and cannot exceed 50% of eligible costs for for-profit organizations (OBL) and 80% for non-profit organizations (OBNL) and cooperatives, provided they can demonstrate unsuccessful attempts to secure other funding sources.
- For OBL, a minimum promoter's contribution of 50% is required, with a maximum governmental aid accumulation of 50%.
- For OBNLs, cooperatives, and municipal entities, a minimum promoter's contribution of 20% is required, with a maximum governmental aid accumulation of 80%.
- For Indigenous communities, organizations, or nations, a minimum promoter's contribution of 10% is required, with a maximum governmental aid accumulation of 90%.
- For projects located in Îles-de-la-Madeleine, a minimum promoter's contribution of 10% is required, with a maximum governmental aid accumulation of 90%.
- The promoter's contribution, including partners' contribution, cannot originate from sources considered in the accumulation of governmental financial aid.
- An open public tender is required for awarding construction contracts of $100,000 or more.
Eligible projects & activities
- Implementation of routes and tourist circuits.
- Development of a thematic product.
- Any project demonstrating the structuring of the regional tourism offer with proven sustainability for over three years.
Eligibility criteria of the Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer program
- The applicant must be a legally constituted entity under Quebec or Canadian laws and conduct business in Quebec.
- The project and the promoter must be established in the Baie-James tourism region, specifically in Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, Matagami, or the Eeyou Istchee Baie-James Regional Government.
- Eligible applicants include for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, cooperatives, municipal entities, recognized Indigenous communities and organizations, regional tourism associations with external financial support, and groupings of these entities.
- Applicants must have met obligations from any previous grants from the partners, if applicable.
- Tourism accommodation businesses must comply with applicable laws and possess an establishment number.
- Nature and adventure tourism enterprises must comply with, or commit to comply with, the Adventure Écotourism Québec Quality-Safety program standards.
- Projects must have admissible costs of at least $25,000.
- The project must demonstrate the potential to impact more than one regional county municipality (MRC) and generate wide-ranging benefits through partnerships.
Who is eligible?
- For-profit and non-profit tourism companies.
- Cooperatives operating in the tourism sector.
- Municipal entities including cities, towns, villages, and regional municipal counties.
- Recognized Indigenous communities and nations, along with Indigenous tourism organizations and companies.
- Regional tourism associations supported by financial partners.
- Combinations of the above-mentioned groups.
Who is not eligible
- Sociétés d'État et ministères et organismes des gouvernements du Québec et du Canada.
- Entreprises inscrites au registre des entreprises non admissibles aux contrats publics.
- Entreprises non conformes au processus de francisation de l’Office québécois de la langue française.
- Projects linked to the sectors of bed and breakfast establishments, hotel-condominiums, cycling trails, snowmobile trails, golf courses, and dock renovations.
- Projects in the restaurant and retail sectors.
- Projects related to tourism reception and signage, training content development, gambling sector, and those related to the sale and consumption of alcohol.
- Projects with a majority of costs related to upgrading, maintenance, or replacement of existing infrastructure or equipment.
- Projects already completed or in progress at the time of application submission.
Eligible expenses
- Fees for specialized consulting firms or consultants.
- Travel expenses (comparable to those of the ATR).
- General expenses directly related to project execution.
- Salaries and social benefits for human resources dedicated specifically to the execution of the promoter's project.
- Net taxes (excluding the refundable portion) related to eligible costs.
Eligible geographic areas
- The territory of the region touristique de la Baie-James
- The cities of Chapais, Chibougamau, Lebel-sur-Quévillon, and Matagami
- The territory of the Gouvernement régional d’Eeyou Istchee Baie-James
Eligibility criteria of the Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer program
- L’adéquation avec les objectifs de l’EPRTNT.
- Le caractère structurant (pouvoir d’attraction, portée du projet, retombées, concertation avec d’autres partenaires, création d’emplois, étalement de la saison, etc.).
- Le caractère novateur.
- La qualité en matière de concept, de produits et de services.
- La structure et le montage financiers.
- La pertinence (clientèle significativement touristique et sa diversification, marché, concurrence, qualité de l’offre, stratégie de marketing, maillage, etc.).
- La faisabilité (échéancier, stratégie de marketing, qualité du plan d’affaires ou du devis d’études, expertise du promoteur).
- La prise en compte des principes de développement durable.
- La pertinence touristique et la prise en compte des priorités régionales.
How to apply to the Tourisme Baie-James — EPRTNT – Structuring the tourism offer program
1
Mandatory preliminary meeting
- Organize a meeting with the Baie-James Tourism team.
- Discuss your project to ensure that all necessary documents will be submitted.
- Check that the file is complete to avoid any delays.
2
Preparation of the required documents
- Complete and sign the application form in Excel format.
- Develop a project plan outlining the expected deliverables and impacts over three years.
- Compile the financial statements for the last two years (except for certain entities).
- Create a projected income-expense statement for the duration of the project.
- Obtain a resolution from the board of directors authorizing the signer of the application.
- Provide written confirmation from financial partners, if available.
- Provide, if necessary, the appropriate Indigenous certificate or certification.
- If applicable, provide proof of compliance with the Quality-Safety program of Aventure Écotourisme Québec.
3
Filling out the application form
- Complete the Financial Assistance Request form EPRTNT for the Baie-James region.
- Ensure that all information is accurate and complete.
4
Submission of the request
Send the form and all required documents to the following address: olafoudah@tourismebaiejames.com.
5
Contact for further information
For any questions, please contact Ms. Isabelle Milord at 418-770-5290 or by email at imilord@tourismebaiejames.com.
Additional information
- The maximum funding received from this grant cannot substitute existing programs.
- A project that has received financial aid from the Administration Régionale de la Baie-James (ARBJ) is not eligible for this financial support.
- A public tender process is mandatory for awarding construction contracts of $100,000 or more.
- If the beneficiary is a municipal entity, it must comply with legislative and regulatory provisions governing contract awards.
- Projects involving construction or expansion costing $150,000 or more must comply with Quebec's policy on integrating art into architecture and environment in government and public buildings and sites.
- Recipients of financial aid totaling $100,000 or more must commit to implementing an equal access program if they employ over 100 workers.
- Compliance with the Quebec Official Language Act is required for all businesses operating in the province, irrespective of their size.
- Sustainability development proposals are required as one of the EPRTNT’s objectives is promoting a responsible and sustainable tourism offer.
Contact Tourisme Baie-James
olafoudah@tourismebaiejames.com
418-770-5290