Programs
Under its assistance programs, the Agency provides repayable and non-repayable contributions and, in exceptional circumstances, grants.
Through its 14 business offices, the Agency works with a clientele made up mainly of:
- SMEs, including social economy enterprises
- not-for-profit organizations
- communities.
Programs
Other initiatives eligible under regular programming
Programs
The programs listed below are available in every region of Quebec. We would encourage you to visit the Web page for your business office to find out about specific programs in your region.
Innovation, Development, Entrepreneurship and Access Program for SMEs (IDEA-SME)
Target clientele:
- SMEs, including social economy enterprises
- SME support organizations
- business associations
- economic development organizations.
The program promotes the development of enterprises, helps them to become more competitive on world markets and provides them with access to a wide range of economic programs and services.
IDEA-SME’s areas of activity are :
- innovation
- testing and experimentation to enhance natural resources
- productivity
- e-business
- market development and export
- social economy capacity building
- entrepreneurship and business climate development.
Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI)
The program promotes the implementation of projects and initiatives that support the economic strengths of a region. It was designed on the basis of the following priorities, according to the specific needs of the regions:
- increased use of technology by SMEs
- development of tourist attractions
- drawing power and international reach
- adjustment to the new global economic environment.
Sixteen regional intervention strategies, launched jointly with socio-economic players from the individual regions, have been developed to respond to the specific needs of each region.
Consult the page for the business office in your region to learn about its RSI.
Community Economic
Diversification Initiative – Vitality (CEDI-VITALITY)
CEDI-VITALITY supports communities with slow economic growth in seven regions
and 21 Quebec regional county municipalities.
By funding projects that encourage the emergence of a socioeconomic
environment conducive to developing entrepreneurship, the conversion or startup
of new enterprises and the creation of projects that foster sustainable
employment, the initiative is intended to:
- diversify the economic base of these communities
- reducing the dependency of communities whose economies
are based on a single industry or sector,
or on natural resource development
- create sustainable employment
- decrease population exodus.
Target clientele:
- SMEs
- business groups and industry associations
- organizations or institutions dedicated to promoting and
disseminating knowledge
- non-profit economic organizations
- organizations or enterprises operating a regional attraction
that gives the community a special competitive advantage
- municipalities and municipal agencies.
Funds for business start-ups and succession in the
regions
Two funds were implemented in September 2006 to facilitate the establishment
and preservation of businesses in the regions. These funds are the Venture
Capital Fund for Business Start-ups in the Regions and the Capital Fund for
Business Succession.
The Venture Capital Fund for Business Start-Ups in the Regions was created to support enterprise
start-ups in
seven regions and 21 Regional County Municipalities (RCMs) experiencing a
population decline and weak economic growth. It targets SMEs that do not have
regular, recurring sales and that are on their first round of seeking outside
investors.
The Capitalization Fund for Business Succession
was created to
support business transition. It helps support a buyer who has an investment
proposal from a recognized venture capital firm but insufficient assets to
complete the financing required for the acquisition. This fund targets SMEs in
Quebec regions covered by Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) and
Business Development Centres (BDCs).
Community Futures Program (CFP)
Community development organizations benefiting from the CFP are:
The Community Futures Program supports local economic
development and strengthens the ability of communities to realize their full
potential in a sustainable way.
Its main objectives are to promote:
- stability, economic growth and job creation
- diversified, competitive local economies in rural areas
- sustainable communities.
Through its network of partners, Canada Economic Development ensures that most communities in Quebec have local access to information on federal government programs and services.
Infrastructure programs
One of the federal government’s main priorities is to improve the quality of life in cities and towns. We are working to make Canada a world leader in community development. Infrastructure Canada is responsible for these programs at the national level.
In co-operation with the provinces, territories, municipalities, First Nations and the private sector, the Government of Canada has implemented a variety of joint infrastructure programs. In Quebec, these include the Canada-Quebec Infrastructure Works Program and the Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund , which Canada Economic Development has been asked to administer.
CANtex Canadian Textiles Program
The CANtex Canadian Textiles Program is intended to increase the competitiveness of textile manufacturing companies. It helps them to:
- enhance their productivity
- reduce their costs
- improve their efficiency
- diversify their production into higher value-added textile products for growing niche markets.
Companies established prior to June 27, 2002, and created for the purpose of manufacturing textiles are eligible to apply for CANtex funding.
The program is being implemented by Canada Economic Development in Quebec, and by Industry Canada in the rest of the provinces.
CANtex builds on the record of the Canadian Apparel and Textile Industries Program (CATIP), which ended in October 2004. The list of projects CATIP has funded is available for consultation.
Other initiatives eligible under regular programming
Festivals and sporting events
Festivals and sporting events constitute an important economic, tourism, cultural and social sector for Quebec . In this context, Canada Economic Development has established an intervention strategy based on its programming to support the marketing and renewal of festivals and sporting events in Quebec and increase attendance. The support provided strengthens the vitality of communities and regions.
Social economy
The IDEA-SME Program fosters and supports the growth of enterprises to help them become more competitive on world markets. Its target clientele consists of SMEs and organizations supporting the development of SMEs.
The Agency is working closely with the Chantier de l’économie sociale to set up a patient capital fund for Quebec’s social economy enterprises. The aim of the fund is to improve access to long-term financing for such enterprises.
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