How much funding can be received?

Funds up to 50% of admissible expenses, capped at $37500 per project.

What is the deadline to apply?

The deadline to apply is not specified.

Who are the financial supporters of the Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown?

Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown is funded by Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE), Laval Economique

What are Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown's eligibility criterias?

Operate in retail, restaurant, or accommodation sectors under specified NAICS codes Be located in downtown Laval Have at least two years of commercial activity

Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown

Last Update: July 22, 2025

Laval, QC

Help businesses in downtown Laval to develop their competitiveness through innovative projects

Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown at a glance

Eligible Funding

Max. $37,500
Up to 50% of project cost

Timeline

Receipt of requests is now closed

Financing Type

Grant and Funding

Eligible Industries

Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Real estate and rental and leasing
Professional, scientific and technical services
Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services
Accommodation and food services
Other services (except public administration)
Public administration

Grant Providers

Ministère de l'économie, de l'innovation et de l'énergie du Québec (MEIE)
Laval Economique

Program status

Closed

Overview of the Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown program

The Virage techno grant offers up to $37,500 to support downtown Laval shops, restaurants, and accommodation businesses in their digital transformation efforts. Eligible activities include the acquisition of technological equipment and related services to enhance digital presence and competitiveness.

Financing terms and conditions

Financial assistance covers up to 50% of eligible equipment acquisition costs, to a maximum of $30,000 per company.
Additional funding for related acquisition costs (such as implementation) up to 15% of the equipment acquisition cost.
Bonus support for projects leveraging the Internet of Things (IoT), up to 25% of equipment acquisition costs, with a maximum of $7,500 per company.

Eligible projects & activities

Adoption of automation and robotics for business operations.
Integration of virtual and augmented reality technologies.
Implementation of artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Deployment of digital inventory management and security systems.
Acquisition of specialized business software to enhance digital transformation.

Examples of admissible projects:

$ 18,750

Develop an AI-driven CRM system for a local hotel

$ 18,750

Implement a virtual reality experience upgrade at a local museum

$ 18,750

Install automated checkout systems in a local grocery store

$ 11,250

Implement NFC payment solutions at a café

$ 12,500

Upgrade the digital signage system at a local restaurant

$ 18,750

Deploy IoT-based inventory control for a retail store

Eligibility criteria of the Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown program

The applicant must operate in the retail, restaurant, or accommodation sector.
The business must have been conducting commercial activities for at least two years.
The establishment must be located within the downtown area of Laval.
The project must include a documented diagnostic and action plan resulting from strategic planning.
The digital transformation project must not confirm expenditures or contractual commitments before submitting the funding application and receiving acknowledgment from the program administrator.

Who is eligible?

Retail businesses located in downtown Laval
Restaurants situated in downtown Laval
Accommodation businesses operating in downtown Laval

Who is not eligible

Companies not operating in the retail, restaurant, or accommodation sectors classified under the specified NAICS codes (41, 44, 45, 53, 54, 561, 721, 811, 812, 814, 7225).
Businesses located outside the downtown area of Laval.

Eligible expenses

Acquisition costs of eligible equipment and accessory components (excluding material, inventories, and other supplies).
Direct costs related to the installation of equipment (including transportation and leasehold improvements).
Costs for acquisition and implementation of software.
Professional fees directly related to the project.
Direct labour costs assigned to the project, limited to the hourly rate.

Eligible geographic areas

Businesses located within the downtown perimeter of Laval, Quebec.

Eligibility criteria of the Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown program

Assessment of the complete file and validation of the information provided.
Selection of projects according to the terms and conditions set out in the program by an evaluation committee.

How to apply to the Virage techno – shops, restaurants and accommodation downtown program

Diagnosis and Planning

Conduct a detailed assessment of your company aligned with the program's objectives.
Develop a documented strategic action plan for the digital transformation.

Preparation of the documentation

Complete the grant application form accurately.
Collect the financial statements from the last two years.
Finalize the diagnosis and the implementation plan to attach to the application.

Submission of the application

Gather all the required documents.
Submit the complete file to Laval économique.

Receipt Confirmation

Waiting for the acknowledgment of receipt from Laval Économique confirming the submission of the file.

Evaluation by the committee

The file will be evaluated by the selection committee to choose the beneficiaries.

Additional information

The program is delivered through a personalized support pathway, working in collaboration with various public and private stakeholders in Laval's economic ecosystem.
Applications are reviewed and approved by a dedicated committee once all required documents are validated.
The initiative aims to help businesses compete with large online commerce entities by supporting advanced digital transformation.
The program specifically excludes support for website creation projects.