Eligibility

To be eligible, your project must involve:

• The construction, renovation, or improvement of a building.
• The purchase of production equipment and non-self-propelled machinery.
• The initial acquisition of perennial plants or breeding stock.
• Carrying out work aimed at the agri-environmental enhancement of cultivated land.
• Conducting work such as digging a well or a water reservoir, as well as developing a water supply or irrigation system.
• The implementation of on-farm agri-environmental projects.

In addition, to benefit from the Growth Investment Program, your project must:

• Increase the production volume, performance, or profitability of your business.
• Comply with animal welfare and/or organic production standards or any new requirements applicable to agri-food production.
• Improve land under cultivation.
• Adopt agri-environmental practices.

The Sustainable Growth Investment Program has four components, each with specific eligibility requirements.

Component 1D: Growth Support

Available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses for the financing of projects related to productions other than those targeted in the 2D component. The maximum financial assistance is $15,000 on a loan guarantee of up to $150,000.

Component 2D: Growth Plus Support

Available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses for the financing of projects related to beef cattle, sheep, or goat production. The maximum financial assistance is $150,000 on a loan guarantee of up to $600,000.

Component 3D: Agri-Environmental Enhancement of Cultivated Land

Available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses for the financing of projects that will enhance the value of cultivated land or on-farm agri-environmental projects. The maximum financial assistance is $10,000 on a loan guarantee of up to $100,000.

Component 4D: Young Entrepreneurs

Available to all agricultural and agri-food businesses wholly owned by persons over the age of 18 and under the age of 40. In addition, one of these persons must have qualified the same business under the Financial Support Program for Aspiring Farmers within the previous five years. The maximum financial assistance is $45,000 on a loan guarantee of up to $300,000.

Some projects are not eligible. These include

• Loan consolidation and secured loan conversion.
• Share purchasing and/or permanent working capital financing.
• Quota purchasing.
• The purchase of land, a house, existing buildings, or any transaction that, according to FADQ, constitutes the purchase of a farm in whole or in part.
• The purchase of assets used primarily, according to FADQ, for purposes other than agriculture.
• Funding for administrative improvements.
• The purchase of self-propelled machinery.
• Leasing contracts (lease-purchase).
• Investments for the replacement of an asset by the same asset or resulting from negligence or related to the regular annual maintenance of buildings, machinery, or equipment.
• The purchase of assets, in whole or in part, belonging to an enterprise having in common, directly or indirectly with the purchaser, an owner, a shareholder, a partner, or a member.
• The purchase of assets resulting from a business merger, demerger, or division of a company into different entities.
• Financing of current operating expenses, including administrative expenses such as FADQ fees.
• Sales taxes (GST and QST).
• Investments made outside of Québec.
• Permanent short-term needs.