PartÉS — Programme d'appui aux ressources techniques en économie sociale
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
A Quebec provincial grant delivered through RISQ that subsidizes up to 50% (maximum $15,000) of the cost of engaging qualified technical consultants — covering business planning, market research, feasibility studies, strategic planning, and other capacity-building expertise — for social economy enterprises such as cooperatives and non-profit organizations operating a commercial activity. PartÉS is a core instrument under Quebec's 2025–2030 Social Economy Action Plan, which commits $141.9 million to the ecosystem. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis through RISQ.
Eligibility Requirements
- Incorporated Quebec cooperatives or non-profit organizations with a commercial activity mandate
- Social economy enterprises at any stage: pre-startup (emergence), growth, or consolidation/reorganization
- Project must engage a qualified external consultant or specialist — PartÉS does not fund internal labour
- Consulting mandate must serve a strategic or technical development need (business plan, market research, feasibility study, strategic planning, technical analysis)
- Organization must be in good standing (not in bankruptcy or receivership)
- For-profit private companies are not eligible; the enterprise must have a social economy legal structure
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $15,000 (50% cost-share on consulting fees)
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing — rolling intake
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win PartÉS — Programme d'appui aux ressources ... — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 5-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 3-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipPartÉS does not cover GST/QST — build your consultant quote net of taxes. The down-payment requirement (10% for $1K–$5K mandates, 20% for larger) can be met with other grants or donations — combine with municipal economic development funds or CDÉS grants for a zero-cash-out-of-pocket structure. Social enterprises applying for the first time should engage RISQ for a pre-application conversation; RISQ staff can help frame the consulting mandate to fit the eligible scope.
Success Profile
A Quebec cooperative (worker, producer, or solidarity co-op) or non-profit social enterprise with an established commercial activity that needs external expertise to plan its next growth phase, launch a new service line, assess market viability, or restructure its operations. Strongest candidates are post-incorporation and have a well-defined consulting mandate with a named consultant or firm.
Evaluation Criteria
RISQ reviews applications based on organizational eligibility (social economy legal structure, good standing), clarity and scope of the consulting mandate, qualification of the selected consultant, and feasibility of the project timeline. The program is not scored competitively — eligible applications that meet all criteria are generally approved. Turnaround is 4–8 weeks.
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 6
- Business plan development by an external consultant
- Market research and feasibility studies
- Strategic planning engagements
- Technical and operational analyses
- Financial modeling and restructuring assessments
- Organizational development and governance consulting
Ineligible Expenses 5
- Internal employee labour and salaries
- GST and QST tax portions
- Marketing and advertising materials
- Capital equipment and infrastructure
- General operating expenses
Intake Periods
Rolling intake with no fixed windows. Applications accepted year-round through RISQ.
Deadline Notes
No fixed intake window. Applications are submitted directly to RISQ and reviewed on a rolling basis. Expect 4–8 weeks from submission to approval decision. The program operates under the 2025–2030 Social Economy Action Plan with continuous funding.
Ineligible Organizations
- For-profit private companies
- Sole proprietorships
- Public sector bodies and municipalities
- Organizations in bankruptcy or receivership
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskNon-repayable grant. Risk of recovery is limited to cases of misrepresentation of eligibility or use of funds for ineligible expenses. The two-instalment structure means only the advance portion is at risk if the mandate is not completed.
How PartÉS — Programme d'appui aux ressources ... Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PartÉS — Programme d'appui aux ressou... | Up to $15,000 | Easy | Milestone-Based | Ongoing — rolling intake |
| PME MTL - Fonds de développement de l... | $5,000 - $50,000 | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
| Quebec R&D Tax Credit (CRIC — Researc... | 20-30% tax credit (CRIC) | Hard | Tax Credit Offset | Ongoing |
| Investissement Québec — Project Finan... | Varies | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing |
| Canada Economic Development for Quebe... | Varies | Moderate | Reimbursement | Ongoing |
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