This Regional Strategic Initiative allows Canada Economic Development to strengthen the competitiveness of industrial sectors and foster economic diversification and the re-invigoration of rural MRCs and native communities at risk of devitalization.

This initiative centres on three components involving a variety of projects and initiatives:

• "Technological development" component
  
  
  • Strengthening of economic sectors in the Mauricie region
  • Stimulation and renewal of technological entrepreneurship
  • Economic diversification in sectors with strong potential for growth
  • Strengthening of the regional innovation structure
    
    
• "Tourism development" component
  
  
  • Structuring and promotion of the region's tourism products
    
    
• "Regional adjustment" component
  
  
  • Re-invigoration of MRCs and native communities at risk of devitalization

This initiative ends March 31, 2007.

Objectives

• To foster improved competitiveness (new business practices, innovation, productivity, market diversification) of existing industrial sectors
• To support regional economic diversification by encouraging the establishment of enterprises (technological entrepreneurship) engaged in medium and high technology that offer quality jobs in priority sectors for the region
• To help create greater synergy among technological, industrial, financial and governmental stakeholders so as to support the restructuring of the region's economy
• To enhance the international reputation of the region's tourism products
• To support initiatives and projects that contribute to the revitalization of MRCs and native communities at risk of devitalization

Eligible clients

•  Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the manufacturing, processing and value-added service sectors
• SME associations and groups
• SME support organizations and economic and regional development organizations

 Eligible costs for enterprises

All costs deemed necessary to the execution of a project, excluding  the costs of land, buildings, motor vehicles or any other asset whose price exceeds fair market value.

Eligible costs for associations and organizations

Operating costs, professional fees andbursaries

General eligibility criteria

The enterprise or organization must:

• Be located within the territory served by Canada Economic Development's Mauricie business office
• Be incorporated, or be in the process of becoming incorporated, under federal or provincial law
• Present a business plan in support of the project
• Demonstrate the project's contribution to strengthening the competitiveness of existing industrial sectors
• Demonstrate the project's impact on the region's economic diversification, the enhancement of its development potential and technological development
• Demonstrate the project's contribution to creating synergy among technological, industrial, financial and governmental stakeholders in order to support the restructuring of the region's economy
• Demonstrate the project's contribution to enhancing the international reputation of the region's tourism products
• Demonstrate the project's contribution to the revitalization of MRCs and native communities at risk of devitalization

Forms of assistance

Non-profit organizations (NPOs)

• Non-repayable contributions to NPOs not engaged in commercial activities. The funding structure of the submitted project must indicate all financial contributions from other sources.
• Up to 90% of eligible costs.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

• Repayable contributions for business projects in the manufacturing and new economy sectors. The funding structure of the submitted project must indicate all financial contributions from other sources.
• Up to 50% of eligible costs