Funding Guide

Objective

In conformity with the objectives of the Agreement on the Regions and Rurality Fund – Component 2 Support for local and regional development, the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent has implemented the Structuring Projects Support Fund to improve living conditions.

This fund has 3 components : 

Component 1: General Fund

To be eligible for funding under Component 1, admissible businesses or organizations must be registered under the Registrar of Quebec Companies and current (up to date). For persons wishing to start a business, see precision on page 5.)

A structuring project is a project that demonstrates growth¹, has an impact on the economy² and that fall in line with the MRCs intervention priorities.

¹demonstrates growth: growth in rural areas is defined as the process of improving the quality and economic well-being for its residents. 

²impact on the economy: creating and maintaining jobs, contributing to sustainable development and diversification.

³diversification: act of manufacturing a variety of products or selling a variety of merchandise not currently available on the territory. 

The following fields of intervention are prioritized : Fishery; Aquaculture; Agrofood; Tourism and Culture; Leisure; Economic diversification; Labour training; Transportation; Telecommunications; Environment.

Projects involving youth, families and seniors are also prioritized. 

Admissible organizations/businesses

• Municipal organizations ;
• Band councils of Innu communities ;
• Cooperatives (except financial) ;
• Non-profit organizations ;
• Organizations from the education sector ;
• Businesses, private or social economy (except financial) ; 
• Persons interested in starting a business.

Admissible/Inadmissible expenses

In addition to the list of admissible expenses found on page 5 :

• Salaries and wages for the realization of the project including the Mandatory-Employment Related Costs (MERC’s) and social benefits. However, salaries including MERCs and social benefits are only admissible at 50% of the project cost to a maximum amount of $17,500 per project. 
• Professional fees ;
• Inadmissible expenses are outlined on page 6.

Financial assistance is in the form of a grant that cannot exceed $35,000 per project.

Project analysis criteria

Projects submitted under the Structuring Projects Support Fund will be analyzed based on the following factors :

• Structuring aspect of the project; (definition on page 15).
• Projects supporting devitalized territories¹;
• Job creation/maintenance ;
• Community mobilization ; (definition on page 14)
• Sustainability of the project ; (definition on page 14)

¹Devitalized territories: According to the Economic Vitality Index at the Institut de la statistique du Québec, the whole
of the MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent is classified as Q5 while the municipalities within are classified as such :

• Municipalité de la Côte-Nord du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent – Q4
• Municipalité de Gros-Mécatina – Q5
• Municipalité de Saint-Augustin – Q5
• Municipalité de Bonne-Espérance – Q5
• Municipalité de Blanc Sablon – Q4

Component 2: Fishery Fund

The fishing industry is the main industry of the devitalised Lower North Shore. To assist in thesustainable development of the industry. The fishery fund component of the Structuring projects fund is intended to provide financial assistance to Fisherpersons¹ to assist and contribute to safer and more efficient fishing. 

Registered fishing enterprises, including persons interested in starting a registered fishing enterprise are NOT admissible to this component, they are admissible to Component 1.

Under this component, fisherpersons are eligible to 50% of admissible expenses, up to a maximum of $35,000.

This component CANNOT be combined with any other component of this fund nor with any other fund. Projects will be accepted until funds have been exhausted.

The following expenses are admissible : 

• Boats, motors, trailers, storage facility. 
• Modifications to boats (ex. stabilizers, enlargement/reduction).
• Equipment, including safety equipment (ex. Sounders, radar, GPS, hauler, pump, survival suits, floaters, etc.) 
• Nets, traps (pots), buoys (poly float markers), rope, etc. 
• Freezers may be considered as an eligible expense provided that the applicant has a bait license and provides proof thereof. A maximum of 2 freezers can be requested per project.
• Any other expense deemed essential to the industry. 

If the project involves a major purchase³ (boat, motor, boat & motor, trailer, storage, etc.), it cannot be sold within five years of the purchase date. 

³Major purchases: the promoter must possess and provide proof of necessary legal qualifications to own and operate with the project application. 

The following expenses are not admissible :

• Salaries ;
• Expenses related to projects already completed ;
• Expenses incurred before the signing of a financial aid agreement by both the promoter and the MRC ;
• The financing of debt, the repayment of loans or the financing of an already existing or completed project ;
• Any form of loan, loan guarantee, equity investment, etc. ;
• Real estate assets (real estate is defined as anything fixed, immovable, or permanently attached to it which can be bought, leased, sold, or transferred together or separately).

IMPORTANT TO NOTE : Fisherpersons requesting funding under this component must demonstrate that they either FISH
a portion of their product or SELL a portion of their product on the territory of the Lower North Shore and that it has an impact on the economy of the Lower North Shore, whether directly or indirectly.

• Exemple of direct impact : a fisherperson who sells his products directly to a fish processor onthe territory.
• Example of indirect impact : a fisherperson who sells his products to a fish processor off the territory, but that fish processor employs people from the territory

IN ADDITION, promoters must give preference to Quebec products or suppliers located in Quebec. If not, the promoter will have to justify the reasons for his purchases outside the province. 

¹for the purpose of this component, Fisherpersons are defined as without NEQ but are DFO registered license holders. A listing of all permits from DFO is required with the application form.

Component 3: Creating an online presence and training

Having a strong online presence is essential. It enhances accessibility, it reaches a wider audience, it builds customer relations, etc. Under this component, promoters can apply for funding to assist in the cost of creating or improving an online presence (Websites (new or re-vamping), social media marketing, E-commerce, Google My Business registration, etc.)

Financial assistance is in the form of a grant covering 50% of the cost up to a maximum of $ 5,000 per project for private enterprises, 90% for non-profit organizations.

Assistance under this component is one-time only and can be combined with Component 1.

Training

Allow promoters that have been approved for funding to create an online presence to receive training and to ensure that once the tools are created, promoters know how to maintain them.

A promoter may be reimbursed 100% of training fees up to a maximum of $ 1,000. Eligible expenses include registration fees, materials and other costs related to the promoter’s participation in approved training activities.