Business Assistance—Immigrant Investor Program

Investments made by immigrant investors generate revenues that your company may benefit from through a program managed by our affiliate, IQ Immigrants Investisseurs inc., in collaboration with financial intermediaries. A unique and advantageous formula, this product uses foreign funds to invest in Quebec businesses as a non-repayable contribution.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA   Eligible Businesses Your business is eligible if it obtains a favorable recommandation from an accredited financial intermediary and operates in one of the following sectors: Manufacturing; New economy (biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, aeronautics and aerospace); High-value-added information technology; Tourism; Environmental restoration; Recycling, waste recovery and processing; Call centres; Aquaculture, sea farming and marine biotechnology; Horticultural specialties.   Under certain circumstances, cooperatives and non-profit organizations that carry out activities in sectors other than those mentioned above may also be eligible.   Eligible Projects Investment: business start-up, growth, modernization, or production improvement, obtaining standards-related certification, technological or design innovation. Market development: commercial development of products outside Quebec.   Special Requirements Project costs must be at least $300,000, or $270,000 for business start-ups. Total consolidated assets must be less than $35 million. Your business must be competitive and your project must be profitable.

FINANCING DETAILS   Financing consists of a non-repayable financial contribution.   Terms and Conditions The maximum contribution amount must not exceed 10% of total project costs, or 15% in the case of business start-ups. The contribution cannot exceed $500,000 per three-year period, per business. The minimum contribution amount is $40,000. The contribution is disbursed over four years.   Fees There are no fees to be paid to the financial intermediary or to IQ Immigrants Investisseurs inc. to process your file.

PROCEDURE   Step 1 Contact a financial intermediary accredited with the program to submit your application, or contact an Investissement Québec advisor who will answer your questions.   Step 2 The financial intermediary or advisor will help you draw up a list of the information required: business plan, nature of the project, financing sought, planned expenses, marketing plan, guarantees, etc.   Step 3 The financial intermediary will submit your application to IQ Immigrants Investisseurs inc. We will review your file and then contact you.   Avril 2006