Directory of business assistance programs
The following is a non-exhaustive list of business assistance programs listed.
FINANCIAL AID FOR COMPAGNY
Last updated: 10/03/2025
START-UP, ACQUISITION OR EXPANSION
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MTESS - Self Employment Support Measure (STA)
Description: Pre-start-up and business start-up assistance. To be eligible for the program, you must be in one of these situations:
be an EI claimant;
be a social assistance recipient;
being unemployed and without government income support;
be a worker or a worker with precarious status.
Amount: Undetermined. Maximum 52 weeks.
Deadline: Ongoing.
For more information: https://www.quebec.ca/emploi/soutien-au-travail-autonome
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Assistance for the development of external markets
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION AND MARKETING
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MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Help with web marketing
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Web marketing optimization program
Description: The City of Dolbeau-Mistassini’s program for businesses in its territory that want to make the leap to online commerce and maximize the benefits of their web presence.
Amount: Up to 75% of eligible costs, maximum $1,000 per business.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information:https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
HUMAN RESOURCE
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MTESS - MFOR STRATEGY
Description: Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MTESS) program for individual employee training for businesses and municipalities. The training activity should help keep people in employment, increase worker performance, and be transferable to other staff members to increase mobility within the organization.
Amount: Up to 50% of eligible expenses.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
MTESS - Programme Ambition-Compétences
Description: Program of the Ministry of Employment and Social Solidarity (MTESS) and the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail (CPMT) for collective training and employee skills development. Based on calls for projects.
CURRENT CALL: GREEN ECONOMY AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION. For the development and acquisition of the skills required to adapt to major changes.
Amount: Between 85% and 100%, depending on the type of eligible expenses.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Program for labour development
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY
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SADC - Green Shift Program
Description: Non-repayable assistance for studies and consulting fees related to waste management, carbon balance, GHG reduction plan, ecodesign, energy efficiency optimization, Optimization of freight transport, sustainable business models and responsible sourcing.
Deadline: Ongoing.
For more information: https://sadcmaria.qc.ca/pret-strategie-verte/
ÉNERGIR - Efficient Renovation Grant - Small Buildings
ÉNERGIR - Subsidies for energy efficiency
QUÉBEC - Drive Green program
Description: You are a company, a municipality or an organization and you plan to install charging stations for your corporate vehicles or the vehicles of your employees? You may be eligible for financial assistance.
Amount:
Financial assistance for the acquisition and installation of on-site charging stations is equal to 50% of eligible expenses up to a maximum of:
$5,000 per wireless charging station
$5,000 per connector (for a terminal with one or more connectors)
Financial assistance for the rental and installation of a workplace charging station is:
$500 per wireless charging station;
or
$500 per connector (for a terminal with one or more connectors)
and
50% of eligible expenses related to the installation of a charging station.
In all cases, the financial assistance may not exceed $5,000 per wireless charging station or $5,000 per connector.
Deadline: Until the fund is exhausted.
For more information: https://www.quebec.ca/transports/transport-electrique/aide-financiere-vehicule-electrique/programme-roulez-vert
SPECIFIC TO THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR
VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Revitalization program for commercial and industrial facades
Description: Program of the City of Dolbeau-Mistassini to support the revitalization of commercial and industrial facades on its territory.
Amount: Up to a maximum of $2,000 for professional fees related to eligible work. Up to 25% of facade costs excluding taxes, maximum $20,000.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Program for local compagny
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC
VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Revitalization program for commercial and industrial facades
Description: Program of the City of Dolbeau-Mistassini to support the revitalization of commercial and industrial facades on its territory.
Amount: Up to a maximum of $2,000 for professional fees related to eligible work. Up to 25% of facade costs excluding taxes, maximum $20,000.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
SPECIFIC TO THE TOURISM SECTOR
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - tourist programme
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
SPECIFIC TO THE AGRI-FOOD SECTOR
Departmental Proximity Initiative
This ministerial initiative aims to bring agricultural producers and artisan processors closer to consumers through the development and consolidation of proximity marketing and agrotourism initiatives that meet consumer needs.
To learn more, click HERE.
AGRI-RELÈVE STRATEGY
For more information, please visit: https://agrireleve.ca/
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - agricultural program
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
SPECIFIC TO COLLECTIVE COMPAGNY
Digital transformation of collective compagny
Description: The objective of the program is to support the digital transformation of collective enterprises (cooperatives or NPOs) in a strategic planning of their digital transformation. This planning mainly identifies the technological actions and orientations to be undertaken in the short, medium and long term.
Amount: A non-repayable contribution of up to $20,000, representing up to 80% of eligible expenses.
Deadline: March 31, 2023.
For more information: https://www.numeriquecollectif.ca/
REFUNDABLE FINANCIAL PROGRAM FOR BUSINESSES
START-UP, ACQUISITION OR EXPANSION
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SADC MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Youth Strategy Loan
Description: Financial support offered by SADC Maria-Chapdelaine in the form of an interest-free loan (if repaid within the first 2 years) for the start-up or acquisition of a business for those under 40.
Amount: Between $5,000 and $15,000 per contractor. Maximum of 2 borrower contractors per business.
Deadline: Ongoing.
For more information: http://sadcmaria.qc.ca/pret-strategie-jeunesse/
GIANT SECTOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (CDE) - Business Assistance Fund
Description: Assistance for municipalities in the GEANT sector (Girardville, Saint-Edmond-les-Plaines, Albanel, Normandin and Saint-Thomas-Didyme), which takes the form of a grant from the municipality concerned, a non-interest-bearing portion of the Maria Chapdelaine RCM and a non-interest-bearing portion of the Corporation.
Amount: $40,000 maximum.
Deadline: Ongoing.
For more information, please contact: Nicole Bilodeau by phone at 418 274-2004 poste 3214 or email to info@ccinormandin.ca.
VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Municipal business fund
Description: Investment fund of the City of Dolbeau-Mistassini to finance the start-up, acquisition and expansion of businesses located in the territory of the City of Dolbeau-Mistassini. A specific component for relocation assistance exists. The aid takes the form of a non-repayable part and a repayable part without interest (unless in default).
Amount: Up to 40% of the eligible project cost. A limit on the amount of assistance applies.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
SADC MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Regular Fund Loan
Description: Financial support provided by SADC Maria-Chapdelaine in the form of a loan for business projects.
Amount: $5,000 to $150,000.
Deadline: Ongoing.
For more information: http://sadcmaria.qc.ca/pret-fonds-regulier/
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE - Support for innovative projects
For more information: contact the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine at 418 276-2131 or by email at portail@mrcmaria.qc.ca.
TAX CREDITS FOR COMPAGNY
TAX CREDIT
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VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Revitalization program in core sectors
Description: Dolbeau-Mistassini City Tax Credit Program to support the construction and renovation of a main building for commercial purposes in the central areas along some of the City’s commercial thoroughfares (8th Avenue, boulevard Vézina, rue De Quen, boulevard St-Michel).
Amount: Maximum of $25,000 per year for 5 years
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
VILLE DE DOLBEAU-MISTASSINI - Business tax credit program
Description: The City of Dolbeau-Mistassini’s Tax Credit Program applicable to construction work on a new main building or expansion of a main building that results in a significant increase in property assessment.
Amount: Maximum of $25,000 per year for 5 years
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://ville.dolbeau-mistassini.qc.ca/affaires/programme-d-aide-aux-entreprises
ADVICE, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND MENTORING
START-UP, ACQUISITION OR EXPANSION
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SADC MARIA-CHAPDELAINE
Description: Financial solutions and technical assistance for entrepreneurs in the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine.
For more information: http://sadcmaria.qc.ca/
MRC DE MARIA-CHAPDELAINE
Description: Financial solutions and technical assistance for entrepreneurs in the MRC of Maria-Chapdelaine.
For more information: https://mrcdemaria-chapdelaine.ca/#
CEE-UQAC
Description: Support offered to the entire UQAC university community (students, professors, lecturers, staff, etc.), its graduates for a maximum of four years and to students from the four CEGEPs in the region (Chicoutimi, Jonquière, Alma and Saint-Félicien).
For more information: https://ceeuqac.ca/
EXPORT
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SERDEX INTERNATIONAL
Description: Support for companies wishing to expand their activities into new markets.
For more information: https://serdex.com/
EDC - 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗱’𝗮𝗰𝗰é𝗹é𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 (𝗣𝗔𝗖)
Description: The CAP is an innovative technical support program designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises in Quebec acquire knowledge and a network of contacts to increase their export potential.
This program includes online workshops with trade and industry experts. It provides an opportunity for Canadian business leaders to learn how to overcome export barriers and gain new markets faster.
Among the criteria:
– Have been in business for two years
– Have more than $500,000 in annual revenue
Amount: Not applicable.
Deadline: Indeterminate.
For more information: https://www.edc.ca/fr/campaign/trade-accelerator-program.html