Fonds Écoleader

The Fonds Écoleader (Ecoleader fund) is a large-scale project initiated by the government of Québec and coordinated by the Fonds d’action québécois pour la développement durable (FAQDD) in cooperation with the Centre québécois de développement durable (CQDD) and Écotech Québec.

Helping you act quickly

The objective of the fund is to provide guidance and support for businesses in adopting a wide range of eco-responsible business practices and clean technologies.

Projects submitted within the context of the Fonds Écoleader can take a variety of forms corresponding to the two components of the funding program:

• Component 1 – Business: A business that intends to execute a project that meets its specific needs.
• Component 2 – Cohort of businesses: An association, group, federation of cooperatives or business that intends to coordinate a cohort of businesses. The objective of the cohort is to pool experiences and resources within the context of a project in order to meet their shared needs. There is no limit to the number of businesses that can take part in the cohort.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance is offered to businesses that intend to retain the services of experts to help them implement eco-responsible practices or prepare for the acquisition of clean technologies.

Component 1 – Business
The maximum amount of financial assistance available per business is $40,000 for projects involving the adoption of eco-responsible practices and $60,000 for projects involving the adoption of clean technologies. The amount of financial assistance granted cannot exceed 75% of eligible expenses. The private contribution portion must equal at least 25% of the total cost of eligible expenses.

Component 2 – Cohort of businesses
For projects within this component, the maximum amount of financial assistance available for each business is the same as for Component 1, up to a total of $400,000 per project involving eco-responsible practices and $600,000 per project involving clean technologies. The maximum amounts do not limit the number of businesses that can be members of a single cohort.

Eligibility conditions

Component 1 - Business

• Applicants must meet the following conditions:
• Be a legally constituted for-profit or social economy business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec and incorporated pursuant to one of the following laws:
• Companies Ace Part III;
• Canada Business Corporations Act Part II;
• Cooperatives Act;
• Operate a commercial establishment in Québec.

Component 2 – Cohort of businesses

This component is intended specifically for businesses that intend to launch or pursue procedures aimed at adopting eco-responsible business practices or clean technologies. The businesses act as members of the cohort. In light of this, double eligibility is required.

The applicant that is acting as coordinator of the cohort must meet the following conditions:

• Be an association, group or federation of cooperatives, or a for-profit or social economy business;
• Operate an establishment in Québec;
• Have been in business for at least one year.

Businesses that are members of the cohort must meet the following conditions:

• Be a legally constituted for-profit or social economy business registered with the Registraire des entreprises du Québec and incorporated pursuant to one of the following laws:
• Companies Ace Part III;
• Canada Business Corporations Act Part II;
• Cooperatives Act;
• Operate a commercial establishment in Québec.

Please note that there is no limit with respect to the number businesses that can be members of a single cohort.

Eligible projects

• Eligible business projects must target one of the following:
• The adoption of one or more eco-responsible practices;
• Preparation for the acquisition of one or more clean technologies.

Submitting an application

For more information concerning eligibility criteria and to submit an application for funding, consult the Fonds Écoleader website.

Contact the Fonds Écoleader experts for Montréal.