Productivity - Small commercial companies

Eligibility for this grant is determined by specific requirements related to the company's profile and capabilities.

• The company must be based in Canada.
• It must be a for-profit entity registered with the Canadian government.
• The company should have been in operation for at least two years.
• The annual revenue should not exceed CAD 10 million.
• The business must demonstrate innovation in products or services.

Who is eligible?

Yes, there are eligible types of companies for this grant. The grant is designed to support specific businesses in the retail, restaurant, and tourism service sectors to overcome workforce challenges through the acquisition of productivity-enhancing equipment or technologies.

• Private incorporated companies
• Social economy enterprises (non-profits and cooperatives) with predominantly commercial activities
• Franchises with five (5) establishments or less having their head office in Quebec
• Companies with 50 or fewer full-time equivalent employees

Who is not eligible

Yes, there are certain types of companies that are not eligible for this grant.

• Vehicle dealerships
• Auto parts retailers
• Gas stations
• Collaborative tourist accommodations (e.g., Airbnb, Home Away)
• Purely online businesses
• Social economy enterprises (NPOs and co-ops) that do not demonstrate sound democratic governance
• Applicants not cleared from a bankruptcy judgment
• Companies listed on the Register of companies ineligible for public contracts
• Applicants who failed to meet obligations from a previous grant from the City of Quebec within the last two years
• Applicants with outstanding debts to the City of Quebec
• Projects with discriminatory nature, controversy, or negative image risk for the City of Quebec
• One-time event-based projects

Eligible expenses

The eligible projects for this grant focus on stimulating economic growth and enhancing technological advancement in strategic sectors. These activities aim to support research, development, and the deployment of innovative solutions across industries.

• Research and development in advanced manufacturing technologies.
• Implementation of digital transformation initiatives in traditional industries.
• Commercialization of cutting-edge biomedical research projects.
• Deployment of clean technology innovations in the energy sector.
• Capacity building and skills development for workforce readiness in emerging tech fields.

Eligible geographic areas

This grant is available to small commercial companies located in specific geographical areas as determined by the funding body. The eligibility is focused on aligning with regional productivity enhancement goals.

• Companies must be located within Canadian provinces or territories.

The grant for small commercial businesses includes specific evaluation and selection criteria to determine the eligibility and feasibility of the proposed projects. These criteria focus on the demonstration of productivity improvement, response to labor challenges, financial capacity, and overall project viability.

• Demonstration of the increase in productivity and addressing of labor issues
• Financial capacity of the applicant to complete the project and achieve objectives
• Viability and coherence of the submitted project (including the relevance of the project, realism of the financial plan, and involved partners)
• Demonstration of problems resolved by the project

This grant aims to assist retail businesses, restaurants, and tourist service providers in overcoming labor recruitment challenges by funding the acquisition of equipment or technologies to improve productivity.

• Eligibility is limited to private incorporated businesses, social economy enterprises, and franchises with a maximum of five establishments.
• The maximum financial contribution is $25,000 per project, covering up to 35% of eligible expenses.
• The equipment or technology acquired must address productivity and labor issues, with the city reserving the right to inspect for efficiency within 12 months post-grant.