Quebec Business Grants: What’s Available and How to Apply

The Workforce Training Measure is designed to support the development of skills for people at risk of losing their job. This program could also help engtrepreneurs maintain the expertise in place in their business. They could get technical or financial assistance to define their training needs, carry out a training project, and evaluate the effectiveness of the training received.

Persons with disabilities may have specific needs in their workplace. In some cases, the work environment must be adapted according to the person’s abilities to meet the requirements of the job. In these situations, it is possible to reimburse the employer for certain costs necessary for the integration or retention of this clientele.

The Wage Subsidy program can help you make your application more attractive and make it easier for an employer to recruit you. You will increase your chances of finding sustainable employment or acquiring skills that will be useful in another job.

Quebec’s leader in venture capital, Investissement Québec invests in innovative, visionary, and forward-looking projects. This contribution of funds, vital for businesses, can be made directly or indirectly through specialized funds.

This program is intended for professional and apiring indigenous artists, indigenous cultural workers, as well as indigenous collectives and indigenous non-profit organizations.

Improving the condition of the hotel park infrastructure and adding tourist accommodation units;
More specifically, this component aims to:

The renovation and upgrading of accommodation units, meeting or conference rooms, public areas (entrance hall, reception, rest areas, public toilets, bar and other interior fittings) or the exterior structure of the building (cladding, roof, doors and windows, etc.);
The addition of hotel infrastructure.

Stimulate private investment to renew the tourism offering in Quebec;
Promote the takeover of tourism businesses;
To ensure the growth, development and sustainability of tourism businesses;
Stimulate the regional economy by increasing the number of visitors and increasing tourism revenue;
Increase the economic and social vitality of communities and regions through the development of a sustainable, original and diversified tourist offering.

Innovative companies chosen by a selection committee will benefit from support and a lump sum to stimulate their growth. Funding may also be provided to them so that they can adapt their solution to the targeted tourism companies.

At the same time, the MT Lab will carry out various networking and consulting activities to support organizations in their initiatives to promote the emergence of a culture of innovation in the tourism sector and facilitate the adoption of innovative solutions.

As part of this component, calls for proposals will be made to innovative companies to promote the development of solutions to meet needs and challenges previously identified by tourism stakeholders or partners of the Ministry of Tourism.

The general objective of the program is to support the development and consolidation of an innovative, scalable and sustainable tourism offer to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Quebec tourism industry.

Its specific objectives are as follows:

To increase the adaptation of the offer of Quebec tourism businesses in the context of the global pandemic related to the COVID-19.
Strengthen the development and consolidation of tourist attractions that have a structuring effect on their region, that encourage the retention of Quebecers or that motivate travel.
Increase the economic and social vitality of communities and regions through the development of a sustainable, original and diversified tourism offer.
Promote the adoption of good practices in terms of social responsibility by tourism businesses.

The general objective of the program is to support the development and consolidation of an innovative, scalable and sustainable tourism offering to ensure the sustainability and competitiveness of the Quebec tourism industry.

This program stream provides tourism businesses funding for projects aimed at expanding and diversifying the accessible tourist offer or presents an improvement through the acquisition of adapted equipment or the establishment of accessible activities.

This program stream provides tourism businesses funding for projects aimed at making infrastructure and landscaping accessible or improving the company’s current offer.

Applicants for PAET’s third stream can come together to propose a collective project by designating a responsible organization acting as file holder (examples: grouping of festivals and events acquiring an accessible platform, which is reused by all members, grouping of businesses tourists by purchasing an adapted dock and a hoist).

The aim of this fund is to promote the implementation of innovative projects that will improve the tourist offering by attracting new customers and significantly extending the operating period of tourist businesses.

The Three-Phase Network Access Program offers financial assistance to companies in the agricultural and agri-food sectors that wish to carry out a project requiring an extension of the three-phase electricity network or a connection to this network.

The Roulez vert financial assistance program is offered by the Gouvernement du Québec to encourage the acquisition of electric vehicles and the installation of charging stations.

The Program is open to individuals, companies, organizations and municipalities in Québec.

Prioritize high-impact sectors and technologies
Solving societal challenges with innovative solutions

Developing talent, succession and key skills in research and innovation
Developing scientific and innovation culture

Adapting R&D incentives and innovation support programs
Supporting innovative technological entrepreneurship
Stimulating investment and commercialization of innovations

Transfer and promote research results
Facilitate access to and promote ecosystem resources
Establish a regulatory environment favorable to innovation

Supporting the initiatives of the Quebec Research Funds
Promoting synergies in the research ecosystem

Contribute to the development of the biofood sector by carrying out projects of collective interest arising from the priorities identified in the planning of a given territory or sector.

Promote the development of a common vision of the priorities of an agri-food sector or a territory as well as the coordination of the actors involved in their implementation.

This program aims to improve the production value of French-language fiction, documentary or animated television series in order to increase their commercial potential in markets outside Quebec by relying on technical and artistic aspects (visual and sound), the adaptation of Quebec literary works and the acquisition of rights for a minimum of three existing musical works.

This component of the Technoclimat program offers financial assistance to support innovation in energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the framework of bioenergy production projects.

This part of the program receives applications for financial assistance on an ongoing basis.

Although the regulatory framework allows for all forms of low-carbon energy, this part of the program currently only accepts projects that involve the production of bioenergy.

The regular component of the Technoclimat program offers financial assistance to support innovation in energy and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all sectors of activity.

This component of the Technoclimat program provides financial assistance to support innovation in energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction. It is intended for Quebec industries subject to the GHG emission allowance cap-and-trade system (SPEDE)This hyperlink will open in a new window. and their partners.

The Program aims to encourage companies in the mining sector to improve their business practices in terms of sustainable development and more specifically to:

facilitate the achievement of ECOLOGO® UL sustainability certification within the mineral exploration industry, both for exploration companies and their service providers;
foster the emergence of leaders in sustainable development practices within the mining sector;
facilitate the obtaining and maintenance of Veriflora® certification in responsible peatland management for horticultural peat exploitation companies;
develop traceability initiatives within the MCS mining sector.

The Program aims to encourage companies in the mining sector to improve their business practices in terms of sustainable development and more specifically to:

facilitate the achievement of ECOLOGO® UL sustainability certification within the mineral exploration industry, both for exploration companies and their service providers;
foster the emergence of leaders in sustainable development practices within the mining sector;
facilitate the obtaining and maintenance of Veriflora® certification in responsible peatland management for horticultural peat exploitation companies;
develop traceability initiatives within the MCS mining sector.

The Program aims to encourage companies in the mining sector to improve their business practices in terms of sustainable development and more specifically to:

facilitate the achievement of ECOLOGO® UL sustainability certification within the mineral exploration industry, both for exploration companies and their service providers;
foster the emergence of leaders in sustainable development practices within the mining sector;
facilitate the obtaining and maintenance of Veriflora® certification in responsible peatland management for horticultural peat exploitation companies;
develop traceability initiatives within the MCS mining sector.

The Program aims to encourage companies in the mining sector to improve their business practices in terms of sustainable development and more specifically to:

facilitate the achievement of ECOLOGO® UL sustainability certification within the mineral exploration industry, both for exploration companies and their service providers;
foster the emergence of leaders in sustainable development practices within the mining sector;
facilitate the obtaining and maintenance of Veriflora® certification in responsible peatland management for horticultural peat exploitation companies;
develop traceability initiatives within the MCS mining sector.

The Sustainable Destination and Concerted Action – Component 2 measure aims to support businesses, non-profit organizations, municipal entities and Indigenous communities in the implementation of projects resulting from a participatory and concerted planning approach within the destination to promote responsible, sustainable tourism adapted to the context of climate change.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support to promote membership in a program of reserved designations or valued terms in Quebec (PAPAQ, section 2) aims to help producers of alcoholic beverages increase the number of certified Quebec products.

The program aims to:
• Advance projects to scale up mineral or primary processing of CSMs at the maturity
level of a semi-continuous pilot project (PML 7) or demonstration plant (PML 8) to a
higher level or to market (see Appendix 1 for a description of PML).
• Innovate by creating new processes or improving existing processes.

This component helps develop the general and advanced skills and knowledge of professionals and other stakeholders in the biofood sector on various themes linked to climate issues.

This component aims to increase the number of companies that obtain their certification with a reserved designation or a rewarding term.

This component aims to develop projects for reserved designations or valorizing terms by preparing the analysis and governance documents necessary for the examination of the projects by the Council for Reserved Designations and Valorizing Terms (CARTV).

This component aims to increase the number of collective actions necessary for the management and promotion of reserved designations and promotional terms.

On February 13, 2023, in Bécancour, the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Metal Transformation (CRITM) launched the Critical and Strategic Minerals Scientific Research Network (Network), whose main objective is to promote the development and sustainability of critical and strategic minerals (CSM) value chains.

The Support Program dedicated to the scaling up of mineral processing or primary transformation processes for critical and strategic minerals (MCS) is aimed at companies in the mineral processing or primary transformation sector.

The support measure for the purchase of electric off-road vehicles (VHRE) helps support the electrification of the off-road vehicle fleet of tourist organizations by granting financial assistance.

Financially support all associations affected by the new Law and wishing to enrich their associative life by carrying out projects, networking, research, analysis and organizational development in accordance with their mandate of advice, support, representation, defense and promotion of their members.

Provide financial support to associations affected by the new Law, as part of the implementation of a collective bargaining mechanism.

The Tourist Attractions Development Support Program (PADAT, part 1) supports private investment by granting loans and loan guarantees and by supplementing the financial structure of tourism business investment projects.

The Economic Development Project Support Program – Structuring projects of organizations in support of the development of strategic sectors and regions (PAPDE, component 2) aims to support the implementation of activities and projects that promote the economic development of strategic sectors, niches and centers of excellence, innovation centers and zones as well as regions.

This program supports investments in greenhouse infrastructure and equipment, modernization and optimization of production systems, as well as research and development activities aimed at improving productivity, quality, and environmental performance.

The Economic Development Project Support Program – Structuring projects of organizations in support of entrepreneurship development (PAPDE, component 1) aims to promote and support structuring projects of organizations that offer direct services to entrepreneurs.

This program supports the adaptation of agri-food companies in a context of market opening and access to them. It also aims to mobilize local development actors around concerted and collective projects that highlight the economic potential of the bio-food sector.

This program is aimed at commercial galleries that specialize in the contemporary art market. It aims to support these businesses in their activities of dissemination and promotion of the works of professional artists in Quebec.

This program supports one-time strategic projects or initiatives that make companies operating mainly in SODEC’s fields of activity more competitive in order to promote Quebec’s cultural industries and increase spinoffs.

Provide assistance in the form of coaching, technical advice and financial support to help eligible individuals start a business.

Through this program, SODEC supports producers of digital experiences, as part of a business strategy over a two-year period, for the creation and promotion of a catalogue of works, content, experiences or technocreative cultural products of Quebec intellectual property.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support for Maintaining the Development of Sales of Artisan Wine Producers (PAPAQ, section 4) aims to support the development of Quebec artisan wine producers.

The agreement for the hiring of Aboriginal cultural development agents (EEADCA) aims to support the hiring and training of development agents in Aboriginal communities, with a view to ensuring, within the communities, the deployment of expertise in Aboriginal cultural development and thus forming new partnerships between the communities and the Ministry

The Aboriginal Cultural Development Assistance program aims to support the development of the 11 Aboriginal nations in Quebec, recognized by the National Assembly. The nations recognized by the National Assembly are as follows: (Abenaki, Algonquin, Attikamek, Cree, Huron-Wendat, Micmac, Maliseet, Naskapi, Mohawk, Inuit and Innu).

It promotes consultation between the Ministry of Culture and Communications and its First Nations and Inuit partners with the aim of contributing to the cultural vitality of the communities concerned.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support for increasing sales and the supply of Quebec alcohol in the Société des alcools du Québec network (PAPAQ, section 1) aims to increase sales and the supply of value-added products from Quebec alcoholic beverage producers.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for the financing of public research and innovation infrastructures (PSO, component 4a) enables the modernization of public research and innovation infrastructures.

The Research and Innovation Organizations Support Program – Support for financing infrastructure in support of private innovation (PSO, component 4b) enables the modernization of infrastructure in support of private innovation.

The emerging creation support program:

is aimed at all Quebec audiovisual production companies that develop projects with emerging creators;
supports short and feature-length fiction film projects as well as short, medium and feature-length documentary projects.
They are generally submitted at the development stage, to benefit from the professional support, mentoring, networking and advice measures put in place for emerging creators.
However, some documentary or fiction feature films developed outside the program may be submitted directly to the production stage if they meet the specific eligibility conditions.

Support for D/deaf Artists or Artists with Disabilities is dedicated to the development and recognition of disabled art and artistic practice of D/deaf professional artists and artists with disabilities.

This program aims to develop the Quebec arts and crafts industry by financially supporting companies that assume financial risks to design products that stand out for their potential as a cultural product, namely their quality, originality and distinction. The program supports the production, distribution and digital discoverability of Quebec crafts, in all regions of Quebec.

The Quebec Alcohol Positioning Support Program – Support for associations within the framework of business support activities (PAPAQ, section 3) helps support producers of alcoholic beverages in the marketing of their products.

​Increase research and knowledge development on issues surrounding the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture, with the aim of optimizing nitrogen fertilization and reducing methane emissions from livestock farming.
Develop decision-making tools that are popularized and adapted to different types of companies in order to enable advisors to support companies in the biofood sector in implementing more strategic interventions in the fight against climate change.

Support the implementation of a marketing plan in order to develop or consolidate local marketing and agritourism initiatives.

The Ministerial Initiative ” Agricultural Succession and Entrepreneurship ” aims to help the next generation of farmers in Quebec start a new business or acquire or take over an existing business by supporting, from a sustainable development perspective, the making of necessary investments:

at the start of its agricultural activities;
to the sustainability of its business by improving profitability or reducing risks.

Increase the Quebec beekeeping population by supporting the purchase of equipment and materials that reduce the bee mortality rate and increase the beekeeping population per business.

Improve labor productivity by supporting the purchase of agricultural equipment that reduces the number of working hours in beekeeping.

Increase awareness of the agri-food sector among the population and promote the quality of livestock by supporting agricultural exhibitions and sector exhibitions in Quebec.

The Ministerial Initiative ” Agricultural Succession and Entrepreneurship ” aims to help the next generation of farmers in Quebec start a new business or acquire or take over an existing business by supporting, from a sustainable development perspective, the making of necessary investments:

at the start of its agricultural activities;
to the sustainability of its business by improving profitability or reducing risks.

Plan, develop or consolidate collective initiatives for local marketing and agritourism.

The PARESAU – Forest Fire Measure 2023 provides support to companies that find themselves in a precarious situation and in temporary difficulty due to forest fires and demonstrate a cause and effect link between their financial and/or operational problems and the situation in question.

Maintain business operations by temporarily supporting the working capital needs of strategic companies experiencing significant financial difficulties so that they can continue their activities and maintain their jobs, particularly during the period necessary to implement solutions.

Maintain the activities of strategic companies in financial difficulty by supporting the development of solutions.

The Pêche en herbe program is presented by the Fondation de la faune du Québec, with the support of its main partner, Canadian Tire, and in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks through a special contribution from the sale of sport fishing permits.

Pêche en herbe aims to support organizations offering introductory sport fishing activities for young people aged 6 to 17 residing in the province of Quebec.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for research projects in collaboration with the community (PSO, component 2) aims to:

strengthen the technological innovation capacity of companies and recipient environments through the development and transfer of technology resulting from public research projects;
strengthen the capacity of innovative companies with high growth potential (startups) to commercialize their innovations;
to establish partnerships between university, college, institutional and industrial circles, whether in Quebec, outside Quebec or internationally;
highlight research results and innovations that have commercial potential.

Promote awareness among college students of French-language songs by supporting dissemination activities (professional shows and activities designed specifically for this clientele).

This program provides financial support to Quebec music and variety companies to enable them enter, develop or consolidate their markets outside Quebec, export and promote cultural content.
There are 5 program components for music and variety companies:
1. Strategic development of companies abroad;
2. Projects:
a) Support for business opportunities and promotion abroad;
b) Support for tours of music and variety shows abroad.
3. Collective presence at markets and fairs, and other export activities;
4. International relationships;
5. Strategic initiatives.

This program provides financial support to Quebec book publishing companies that carry out commercial activities outside Quebec to develop or consolidate their markets for books by Quebec authors.
There are 5 program components for books publishing companies:
1. Strategic development of companies abroad;
2. Projects:
a) Support for business opportunities and promotion abroad;
b) Support for the translation of Quebec works;
3. Collective presence at markets and fairs, and other export activities;
4. International relationships;
5. Strategic initiatives.

This program provides financial support to Quebec businesses that produce and distribute cinematographic, television or interactive works outside of Quebec. Support aims to enable these companies enter, develop or consolidate their markets outside Quebec, export and promote cultural content.
There are 5 program components:
1. Strategic development of companies abroad;
2. Projects:
a) Support for business opportunities and promotion abroad;
b) Festivals and awards;
c) Support for the promotion of Quebec cinema abroad.
3. Collective presence at markets and fairs, and other export activities;
4. International relationships;
5. Strategic initiatives.

This program provides financial support to Quebec craft companies to enter, develop or consolidate their markets outside Quebec, to increase their visibility on the international stage, and to export and promote Quebec works.
There are 5 program components for Quebec crafts businesses:
1. Strategic development of companies abroad;
2. Projects:
a) Support for business opportunities and promotion abroad;
b) Support for export – art market.
3. Collective presence at markets and fairs, and other export activities;
4. International relationships;
5. Strategic initiatives.

Impulsion PME (the “Program”) aims to help young innovative companies with high growth potential to gain access to investment capital at the seed stage.

The Program relies on the commitment and collaboration of two types of recognized entities: the reference entities and the recognized investors .

When transferring a business, the seller-lender formula from La Financière agricole can prove to be very advantageous, both for the seller-lender and for the buyer.

Increase awareness of the agri-food sector among the population and promote the quality of livestock by supporting agricultural exhibitions and sector exhibitions in Quebec.

The Coalition for Greener Aircraft is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to developing smarter, more efficient and effective technologies while reducing the environmental footprint of the aeronautical industry.

The Coalition’s vision is to maintain Québec’s competitive position in a fast-evolving global aeronautical market, through research and development activities, in response to new environmental regulations in the fight against climate change.

The Financial Assistance Program for National Leisure Organizations (PAFONL) constitutes a financial lever which aims to support the actions of national leisure organizations (ONL) which participate in the development of leisure in Quebec.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for research projects in collaboration with the community (PSO, component 2b) aims to:

strengthen the technological innovation capacity of companies and recipient environments through the development and transfer of technology resulting from public research projects;
strengthen the capacity of innovative companies with high growth potential ( startups ) to commercialize their innovations;
to establish partnerships between university, college, institutional and industrial circles, whether in Quebec, outside Quebec or internationally;
highlight research results and innovations that have commercial potential.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for research projects in collaboration with the community (PSO, component 2b) aims to:

strengthen the technological innovation capacity of companies and recipient environments through the development and transfer of technology resulting from public research projects;
strengthen the capacity of innovative companies with high growth potential ( startups ) to commercialize their innovations;
to establish partnerships between university, college, institutional and industrial circles, whether in Quebec, outside Quebec or internationally;
highlight research results and innovations that have commercial potential.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for research projects in collaboration with the community (PSO, component 2b) aims to:

strengthen the technological innovation capacity of companies and recipient environments through the development and transfer of technology resulting from public research projects;
strengthen the capacity of innovative companies with high growth potential ( startups ) to commercialize their innovations;
to establish partnerships between university, college, institutional and industrial circles, whether in Quebec, outside Quebec or internationally;
highlight research results and innovations that have commercial potential.

The Support Program for Research and Innovation Organizations – Support for research projects in collaboration with the community (PSO, component 2b) aims to:

strengthen the technological innovation capacity of companies and recipient environments through the development and transfer of technology resulting from public research projects;
strengthen the capacity of innovative companies with high growth potential ( startups ) to commercialize their innovations;
to establish partnerships between university, college, institutional and industrial circles, whether in Quebec, outside Quebec or internationally;
highlight research results and innovations that have commercial potential.

Launched in September 2022, the Research and Development Support Program for the Extraction, Processing and Recycling of Critical and Strategic Minerals is part of Action 2.2.2 of the Quebec Plan for the Valorization of Critical and Strategic Minerals 2020-2025 This link will open in a new window. . Financial assistance is available until March 31, 2025.

Through financial support for research and development projects, the program aims to promote innovation and the acquisition of knowledge on critical and strategic minerals according to the application of circular economy principles in their development.

EPRTNT 2022-2025 funds projects that renew and enhance the tourism offers for different regions across the province. Projects must promote the achievement of objectives to stimulate the economy of Quebec regions and promote the development of a responsible and sustainable tourism offer. These projects must correspond to one of the six categories: attractions, activities and facilities; structuring of the regional tourism offer; accommodation; festivals and events; studies and consulting services; or digital development of a business.

This program aims to support the implementation of collective projects led by a tourism association (regional or sectoral) or a representative recognized by the Ministry of Tourism. These projects must demonstrate repercussions for businesses in several regions or sectors.

This program aims to:

develop a four-season, accessible and safe recreational tourism offering in Quebec’s regional parks;
ensure the development and modernization of infrastructure for tourism activities;
support the adoption of innovative and sustainable practices in order to position Quebec as a leader in sustainable and responsible tourism.

The refundable tax credit for Quebec film and television production covers labour expenses incurred by a company that produces a Quebec film (or program).

These funds aim to stimulate entrepreneurship at the local level.

Some diseases can limit the development of Quebec fish farms. The profitability of a fish farm can be seriously affected by the mortality rate or growth delays linked to these diseases.

The program gives Quebec fish farms the opportunity to produce and offer fish (eggs, fry, fish or broodstock) for which a health status is granted.

Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Science Partnership stream is designed to enable the creation of partnerships that:
1. improve knowledge of the impacts of ecosystem shifts on commercial fisheries;
2. support the implementation of sustainable harvesting technologies.

Quebec Fisheries Fund’s Innovation stream is designed to encourage the development of new products and technologies in the harvesting, aquaculture and fish processing sectors.