CED (DEC) Quebec Funding Programs 2026: Who Qualifies, How Much and How to Apply

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED), known in French as Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec (DEC), is the federal regional development agency for all regions of Quebec. It funds small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organizations, municipalities and regional county municipalities (RCMs), cégeps and universities, and Indigenous organizations. Its largest current offer is the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI). It pays up to $2 million in non-repayable liquidity assistance, funds pivot projects at up to $1 million non-repayable or over $1 million interest-free repayable, and caps total RTRI support at $20 million per business. The Build Communities Strong Fund pays $125,000 to $1 million per community infrastructure project, non-repayable. Under the regular REGI and QEDP programs, SMEs get up to 50% of costs as interest-free repayable funding and non-profits get up to 90% non-repayable. CED posts no application deadlines. Every current program is labelled "Ongoing program" and "Accepting applications". The nearest hard date is March 31, 2028, when RTRI liquidity funding periods must end. No CED page states a time zone for any date. Every date and figure in this guide was read from the agency's official pages on November 8, 2026, and the sources are linked at the end.

This guide covers each program CED is taking applications for, who it is for, the rates and repayment terms, the hard dates that do exist, and the closed programs you will still see listed elsewhere. It also explains CED's two-step application process and how CED funding sits next to SR&ED and IRAP. If you want the application built for you, GrantOps builds and files it from your own records. For the provincial programs that run alongside CED, see our Quebec grants hub.

CED Funding at a Glance

CED runs two umbrella programs. REGI, the Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program (Croissance économique régionale par l'innovation, CERI), is for businesses and innovation. QEDP, the Quebec Economic Development Program (Programme de développement économique du Québec, PDEQ), is for regions, communities and tourism. The national initiatives are delivered through one or both. Status words below are the agency's own labels on November 8, 2026.

Deadlines as of November 8, 2026

CED does not publish application deadlines. Every open program carries the labels "Ongoing program" and "Accepting applications", or "Program status Open: We are accepting project proposals". The hard dates that exist are end dates for funding periods or project completion, not closing dates for applications. No CED page states a time zone for any of them.

Continuous intake, with no closing date stated on the official page (checked November 8, 2026):

• REGI, both components: Business Scale-up and Productivity, and Regional Innovation Ecosystems
• QEDP, Diversify your economy component
• Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative
• Regional Tariff Response Initiative
• Regional Defence Investment Initiative
• Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream
• Support for Regional Quantum Innovation
• Economic Development Initiative, Official Languages
• Initiative to Support Economic Development in Montréal's East End
• Support for festivals in the Greater Montréal region (2025 and 2026 editions)
• Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
• Targeted support for Quebec's economically vulnerable RCMs

A program with no closing date can still run out of money. The Build Communities Strong Fund page says the contribution depends on "the availability of funds", and the RDII is "a three-year temporary initiative". Apply when the project is ready, not when a date forces you. Our November 2026 grants roundup tracks the dated windows at other agencies.

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) in Quebec

The RTRI (Initiative régionale de réponse tarifaire) is the national tariff response program. CED delivers it in Quebec under REGI. Together, the regional development agencies are delivering $3.45 billion. CED's expanded version adds liquidity assistance for day-to-day operations to the original pivot-project funding, and the home page points tariff-affected Quebec businesses to the expanded details.

Who can apply

Your business must meet all three of these tests:

• be an incorporated for-profit business located and operating in Quebec
• have a minimum of $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the last two fiscal years
• have been viable prior to March 21, 2025

It must also show it has been affected by ongoing trade disruptions, including U.S. and China tariffs, Canadian countermeasures or countervailing duties. One of the following is enough:

• operating in a sector hit by Section 338 or Section 232 tariffs, including indirect exposure as a supply chain partner to an affected exporter
• having at least 25% of revenue from goods ultimately exported to the U.S.
• demonstrating negative effects such as cost increases, supply chain disruption or lost revenue

For liquidity assistance, you must also demonstrate a liquidity need caused by tariffs.

Transportation businesses may qualify if their core activities are tied to forestry exporters. Professional, scientific and technical services, warehousing and logistics businesses may qualify if they play a critical role in a manufacturing exporter's tariff-impacted supply chain. Not-for-profit organizations whose primary focus is supporting businesses are eligible for projects, but not for liquidity support. Businesses established after March 21, 2025 may be considered case by case.

Who should not apply: retail businesses, local consumer services such as hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation, oil and gas extraction, construction services, and any business that cannot show direct or indirect tariff exposure. If your revenue is under $1 million, CED says it will still work with you to explore options, with a focus on businesses critical to a value chain, sector or local economy.

How much and on what terms

Two caps apply. A business may receive up to $3 million in combined non-repayable funding, meaning up to $2 million in liquidity plus up to $1 million for a non-repayable pivot project. A business may receive up to $20 million in total RTRI funding, liquidity included. Liquidity support will not exceed your demonstrated need or $2 million, whichever is less, and may be reduced for other government assistance. CED calculates the maximum as the lesser of your projected 12-month cash flow need and 50% of payroll up to $2 million.

You can apply for liquidity assistance, a pivot project, or both, and the combinations may involve several contribution agreements. Previous RTRI recipients may also be eligible for liquidity support, beginning no earlier than August 22, 2026, provided the costs are not already covered by an existing agreement. Repayable contributions are interest-free, with the payment schedule set out in the contribution agreement.

What it pays for

Liquidity assistance covers employee salaries and wages, and essential recurring operating expenses: rent or commercial lease payments, utilities, business insurance and property taxes. You must attest that the money will help maintain Canadian operations and retain employees, and you will report on employment and payroll levels during and after the funding period.

Pivot projects cover new, incremental costs for productivity improvements and process modernization, equipment and technology adoption including automation and digitization, market diversification and export development, supply chain resilience, and other activities that increase competitiveness and reduce trade-related risk. Funding is project-based and must produce incremental, measurable outcomes.

Ineligible costs across all RTRI support include land and building acquisition, entertainment expenses, motor vehicle costs and refinancing of existing debt. Other federal, provincial, territorial or municipal programs can fund the same business, but not the same costs. Costs already reimbursed by another government wage or operating support program cannot be claimed under RTRI liquidity, and you must disclose every source of government assistance.

Deadline and how to apply

There is no application deadline. The two hard dates are verbatim: "Funding period: Up to 12 months, ending no later than March 31, 2028." for liquidity assistance, and "all projects must be completed by no later than March 31, 2029." for pivot projects. Pivot project start dates may be up to 12 months before application submission. No time zone is stated.

If you already have a CED advisor, contact them directly. Otherwise call 1-800-561-0633 (TTY 1-844-805-8727) or use the CED funding programs form. CED says: "we will contact you within one business day to assess your organization's eligibility under the RTRI, answer your questions and send you the required form". Processing tariff-impacted applications is "a priority for CED".

Have these documents ready:

• corporate information and a business profile
• financial statements for the past two years
• evidence of tariff impacts, such as export sales information
• details of other government funding received or requested
• for liquidity assistance, payroll records and a quantified demonstration of need such as cash flow forecasts, with employment retention targets and operational obligations

Applications may be shared with other departments, including Employment and Social Development Canada and the Business Development Bank of Canada. Automated systems or AI may assist the review.

CED's 2026 announcements show the scale: close to $64 million for steel-sector SMEs on April 7, 2026, over $20 million for aluminum processors on May 21, 2026, and $3 million in repayable assistance to Gilbert Products on August 21, 2026. We track the two request bands as RTRI requests up to $1 million and RTRI requests over $1 million. For the other agencies' versions, see the cross-agency RTRI guide.

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) in Quebec

The RAII (Initiative régionale en matière d'intelligence artificielle, IRIA) is delivered by CED under REGI. Nationally, an additional $500 million over five years is available through the expanded RAII, bringing total federal funding to $700 million. CED's share of the original envelope was $38.2 million over 2024-29. Its share of the expansion is not published. On July 15, 2026, CED announced $13,852,374 in RAII contributions for 63 Quebec organizations, consolidating over 1,700 jobs. The initiative runs in Quebec up to March 31, 2031.

Who can apply

• SMEs that commercialize or develop AI technologies or solutions, including start-ups
• SMEs that are ready to adopt AI technologies or solutions
• NPOs that support SMEs in developing, commercializing or adopting AI
• Indigenous-led businesses and NPOs, including individual businesses

Who should not apply: municipalities, and public agencies including health and social services agencies, schools and school boards. They are listed as ineligible.

How much and on what terms

No minimum or maximum per project is published on the English or French page. The terms are rates only. For SMEs: "Repayable financial support up to 50% of authorized costs". The RAII page says repayable and does not say whether interest applies, unlike the REGI pages. For NPOs: "Generally non-repayable financial support up to 90% of authorized costs". Costs are eligible from the date the application is submitted.

What it pays for

Projects must contribute to one of two pillars. The first is developing products and commercializing AI by start-ups and growing businesses: demonstrating or commercializing AI technologies at a technology readiness level of 6 or higher, and building business activity and AI capacity. The second is accelerating AI adoption or integration by SMEs, including in critical sectors, and ecosystem projects that help SMEs adopt AI.

Depending on available funding, CED may prioritize adoption projects in health and life sciences, energy and natural resources, transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing and robotics. Projects with cybersecurity measures, projects that include underrepresented groups, and projects that move to environmentally sustainable practices may also get priority. CED asks applicants to adopt AI responsibly and points to the Government of Canada Voluntary Code of Conduct for Advanced Generative AI Systems and the Montréal Declaration. Research below TRL 6 is not the target of this program. That work belongs in SR&ED or IRAP, covered in the stacking section below.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated on either language page. The only date is from the July 15, 2026 release: "The RAII is being implemented by CED in Quebec up to March 31, 2031." Apply through the standard process: contact your regional business office, confirm eligibility, then complete the form sent to your Client Space. We track this stream as CED Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative. Southern Ontario businesses apply through FedDev Ontario instead, covered in our FedDev Ontario RAII guide.

Regional Defence Investment Initiative (RDII) in Quebec

The RDII (Initiative régionale d'investissement dans la défense) is "a three-year temporary initiative" under REGI. The 2026-27 Departmental Plan gives it $357.7 million in contributions over three years, 2025-26 to 2027-28, including $64.9 million for CED. The program page states: "DEC accepts funding applications under the RDII."

Who can apply

• SMEs that are active, or want to position themselves, in the defence industry supply chain
• not-for-profit organizations that support SMEs, including industry associations, consortia, accelerators and incubators
• Indigenous recipients
• provincial and municipal authorities

Every applicant must demonstrate how the project meets current or future needs of the Canadian Armed Forces, NATO or an allied country. Who should not apply: a business with no defence customer or defence supply chain path, because that demonstration is the eligibility test.

How much and on what terms

No per-project amounts are published. For SMEs, "contributions are repayable" and may cover up to 75% of eligible costs. The page does not state whether interest applies. For non-profit organizations, contributions are generally non-repayable and may cover up to 90% of eligible costs. Ineligible costs are debt refinancing, assets bought above fair market value, amortization, goodwill and land.

What it pays for

In Quebec, the RDII prioritizes business growth and productivity projects. Eligible SME projects aim to:

• increase production and innovation capacity
• improve productivity and competitiveness
• explore and expand into new markets
• meet defence certification or qualification standards
• support start-up and growth to integrate into national or international defence supply chains
• respond to calls for proposals from prime defence contractors and the Government of Canada

On an exceptional and targeted basis, CED may fund regional ecosystem projects led by expert organizations.

CED's 2026 defence announcements show the pace. It announced over $33 million to strengthen Quebec's defence sector on February 18, 2026, and $3.6 million for a defence project at the Université du Québec en Outaouais on March 24, 2026. On April 13, 2026 it announced an investment to structure the defence industrial ecosystem.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. The initiative period is 2025-26 to 2027-28. Apply through the standard guide or use CED's dedicated Defence-Related Projects form. For the other agencies' versions, see the cross-agency RDII guide.

Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream in Quebec

The Local Impact Stream (LIS) of the Build Communities Strong Fund (Fonds pour bâtir des collectivités fortes) is part of QEDP. The national fund was launched in April 2026 with $51 billion over 10 years. In Quebec, the LIS has a budget of $217 million over four years, delivered two ways. The Government of Quebec administers $98 million for community infrastructure with a cultural focus, under an agreement announced July 10, 2026. Quebec matches the federal money for a joint total of up to $196 million, and federal support under the agreement is up to $1 million per project. CED administers $119 million directly for community, leisure and recreational tourism infrastructure, of which $21 million is earmarked for projects led by Indigenous communities. The first three projects under the Quebec agreement, Théâtre Denise-Pelletier, Musée POP and Bibliothèque Germaine-Guèvremont, each received $1 million.

Who can apply

• non-profit organizations and charities, including non-profit cooperatives
• municipalities, regional authorities or public sector organizations established by provincial legislation or regulations
• Indigenous non-profit organizations and organizations led by Indigenous people, such as a band and a band council

The project must also meet four conditions:

• it generates economic and local benefits
• its funding is complete once CED's assistance is added
• the required permits, authorizations, rights-of-way and leases are obtained or far enough along to show the project is ready
• the organization owns the infrastructure or holds the authorizations needed to do the work

It must be completed and open to the public by March 31, 2030. Who should not apply: for-profit businesses, and anyone whose project is primarily commercial.

How much and on what terms

CED limits contributions to the minimum needed for the project to proceed as planned, taking all funding sources into account, and may offer a different amount than requested.

What it pays for

Three types of public-use infrastructure are prioritized. Community infrastructure: community or multipurpose centres, public markets, community gardens and workspaces, and main street or downtown revitalization. Leisure infrastructure: sports fields, bike paths and running tracks, ice rinks, swimming pools and gyms. Recreational and tourism infrastructure: non-provincial parks, non-motorized trails, interpretive sites, community docks, beaches, boat ramps and visitor centres. Eligible activities are new construction, extension, renovation, modernization and climate adaptation.

Eligible costs include construction or improvement work, materials, equipment directly related to the project, additional professional and contractor fees, additional project wages, regulatory compliance, design and planning, and signage for federal visibility. Costs may be retroactive up to 12 months before CED receives the signed application, but no earlier than April 30, 2026.

Ineligible infrastructure includes:

• infrastructure primarily focused on commercial activities, such as ski resorts and golf courses
• cenotaphs and memorials
• docks, ports, marinas and waterfront facilities whose primary purpose is commercial
• facilities for motorized sports, particularly snowmobiling and ATV riding
• facilities not open to the public, or with no clear public benefit
• facilities eligible under other components of the fund, and major tourist attractions
• facilities whose primary purpose is social, health, assistance or support services, such as shelters and community clinics
• facilities used mainly for another level of government's responsibilities in health, social services or education

Ineligible costs include the purchase or lease of land or buildings, recurring operating costs, motor vehicles, debt refinancing, depreciation and goodwill. In Quebec, CED gives weight to projects for which construction is ready to begin and to projects identified as priorities by regional or local authorities.

Deadline and how to apply

The only date is verbatim: "Projects must be completed by March 31, 2030." There is no application deadline and no time zone. Start with the online self-assessment tool, then contact your regional business office to submit a financial assistance application. For the national rules and the other agencies' versions, see the cross-agency Build Communities Strong Fund guide.

REGI: Business Scale-up and Productivity, and Regional Innovation Ecosystems

REGI is CED's main program for businesses and the one most Quebec SMEs end up in. It has two components, Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) and Regional Innovation Ecosystems (RIE), and it is the umbrella for RAII, RTRI, RDII, quantum, the Montréal East End initiative and the closed homebuilding and Black Entrepreneurship Program calls. Both component pages carry "Program status Open: We are accepting project proposals".

Who can apply

BSP eligible applicants are SMEs, co-ops, business associations, NPOs, business support organizations and Indigenous organizations. The main eligible sectors are manufacturing, food processing, information, communications and multimedia technologies, and life sciences, and CED says other sectors may also be eligible. Funding "can be awarded at any stage of a business's development".

RIE is for NPOs that provide services or generate benefits for businesses, business incubators and accelerators, municipalities and RCMs, groups or associations of NPOs, businesses, post-secondary institutions and consortia, and Indigenous organizations. Projects must foster closer ties among ecosystem players, foster the creation, growth and maintenance of regional clusters, or attract foreign investment.

Who should not apply: retail businesses such as clothing stores, grocery stores and automobile sales and maintenance outlets, food services such as restaurants and cafés, transportation services, housing construction, daycare services, hair and beauty salons, and nightclubs, bars and cabarets. CED points those businesses to its network of regional partners instead.

How much and on what terms

No minimum or maximum per project is published. For SMEs under BSP: "Financial assistance generally of up to 50% of authorized costs. This funding is repayable, without interest. Repayment begins two years after the end of the project." That two-year grace period is a distinctive CED term, and it also applies under QEDP, the Official Languages initiative and the Montréal East End initiative. For NPOs under both components: non-repayable financial assistance generally of up to 90% of authorized costs, or up to 50% for capital projects.

SMEs and NPOs in an economically vulnerable RCM or in Montréal's East End may get flexible program conditions. Projects are analyzed on expected results, the viability of the business or organization, technical and financial management capacity, the contribution of partners in money or professional services, and the degree of risk.

What it pays for

BSP examples of funded projects:

• acquisition of digital production equipment, machinery and infrastructure
• assessment, adaptation or adoption of new technologies or new production processes
• activities that boost productivity and production or innovation capacity
• commercialization strategies: trade fairs, prospecting visits, marketing staff, ad campaigns, market diagnostics and studies
• technology showcasing and demonstration
• hiring resources to set up top-performing teams
• best management practices, processes and systems, such as ERP

RIE examples of funded projects:

• transfer of technology and knowledge to businesses
• cutting-edge equipment for recognized research centres, educational institutions, incubators and accelerators
• innovation support services
• recruiting highly skilled resources to raise businesses' innovation capacity
• creating or developing associations, alliances, partnerships and industrial clusters
• services aimed at attracting foreign direct investment to Quebec

Eligible costs are all costs directly related to the project that CED deems reasonable and essential. Ineligible costs are refinancing of existing debt, assets bought above fair market value, amortization, goodwill and land purchases.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated for either component. Follow the Project Submission Guide: contact your regional business office, confirm eligibility, then complete the form sent to your Client Space. We track the streams as Business Scale-up and Productivity for SMEs, Business Scale-up and Productivity for not-for-profits and Regional Innovation Ecosystems.

QEDP: Diversify Your Economy

QEDP is CED's second umbrella. Its objectives are strengthening regional economic activity through entrepreneurship and community economic facilities, and promoting regional assets to attract international organizations or spending by tourists from outside Quebec. The Government of Canada is currently evaluating the QEDP, and past recipients may receive a survey invitation. The component that businesses and organizations apply under is Diversify your economy (Diversifier son économie). The Montréal East End initiative, the festivals program, the NICI Fund, the Official Languages initiative, the Build Communities Strong Fund LIS and the closed social economy call all sit under QEDP.

Who can apply

NPOs, economic development organizations, municipalities and RCMs, organizations tasked with attracting international organizations and foreign investment, local businesses, co-ops, business associations and Indigenous organizations. The same ineligible sector list applies as under REGI: retail, food services, transportation services, housing construction, daycare, hair and beauty salons, and nightclubs, bars and cabarets. Who should not apply: a business in one of those sectors, unless it sits in one of the eight vulnerable RCMs described below, where essential retail and services can qualify.

How much and on what terms

No minimum or maximum per project is published. For SMEs: generally up to 50% of authorized costs, repayable without interest, with repayment beginning two years after the end of the project. For NPOs: non-repayable, generally up to 90% of authorized costs.

What it pays for

Tourism development: commercialization strategies such as promotional tools and participation in events, and the development of tourist attractions, festivals, sporting events and cultural productions, all aimed at spending by tourists from outside Quebec. Support for communities with slow growth or an economic shock: specifications, studies, diagnoses and action plans, and community facilities or infrastructure that promote local economic development. Local entrepreneurship: production equipment, hiring experts or professionals, marketing products and services, and building the capacity to innovate.

Community economic facility projects must benefit many users, primarily businesses, be a regional priority, fit the region's development approach, and be located in one of the RCMs CED lists as experiencing slow economic growth.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. The page says to contact CED at 1-800-561-0633 or by the online form to discuss the project. We track this component as Diversify your economy.

Support for Regional Quantum Innovation

A correction first. At least one third-party listing describes this program as closed. It is not. On November 8, 2026 the program page read "Ongoing program" and "Accepting applications", the Financing and services index dated October 22, 2026 listed "Quantum Innovation Accepting applications", and the French index said "Accepte les demandes". The 2026-27 Departmental Plan gives the program (Appui à l'innovation quantique régionale) a budget of $2.2 million in 2026-27, and on August 14, 2026 CED announced close to $2 million for the quantum company Femtum. It sits under REGI.

Who can apply

• SMEs operating in the quantum or related sectors, such as secured communications, cryptography, IT, sensors and imaging
• SMEs seeking to adopt quantum technology
• NPOs that support the quantum ecosystem, organizations focused on quantum entrepreneurship such as incubators and accelerators, and post-secondary teaching institutions

Who should not apply: businesses with no quantum product, quantum supplier or quantum adoption plan. The program is sector-specific.

How much and on what terms

No amounts and no maximum share of costs are published. For SMEs, "Contributions are generally refundable or conditionally refundable." For NPOs, "Contributions are generally non-refundable." Ask the business office for the rate that applies to your project.

What it pays for

Examples of projects that could receive support:

• commercialization and market development
• marketing and promotional strategies
• hiring specialized personnel
• knowledge and technology transfer
• improving ecosystem capacity to support start-ups and women entrepreneurs
• adopting quantum technology
• acquiring digital infrastructure and production machinery or equipment
• bringing ecosystem players together in partnerships, alliances and industry clusters
• integrating quantum technology into the supply chains of prime contractors in the defence sector

Priority may go to projects that move to product stewardship and sustainable practices, or that remove obstacles for certain population groups.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. Follow the Project Submission Guide through your regional business office. We track the SME stream as Support for Regional Quantum Innovation.

Economic Development Initiative, Official Languages (EDI)

The EDI (Initiative de développement économique, Langues officielles) sits under QEDP and supports official language minority communities, which in Quebec means English-speaking communities. It funds projects that kickstart innovative or entrepreneurial activity, solidify partnerships or diversify economic activity in those communities.

Who can apply

• an SME in an RCM outside the Greater Montréal region where English speakers make up more than 5% of the total population
• an NPO in an RCM whose population includes more than 500 English speakers

The REGI ineligible sector list applies. Who should not apply: SMEs inside the Greater Montréal region, and SMEs in RCMs below the 5% threshold.

How much and on what terms

No minimum or maximum per project is published. For SMEs: generally up to 50% of authorized costs, repayable without interest, with repayment beginning two years after the end of the project. For NPOs: non-repayable, generally up to 90% of authorized costs.

What it pays for

Strategies such as intelligence, specifications, studies, diagnoses and action plans. Networking and business contacts, generally for organizations that support entrepreneurship. Information, consulting and support services. Commercialization strategies: product and service design, equipment, IT tools and technologies, and facility development, construction, modernization or expansion. Recruiting specialized resources to promote official languages in Quebec's French-speaking business community. CED analyzes the economic benefits for the minority community, the incentive effect of the assistance and the financial need, management capacity, viability, risk, the impact on competition and the availability of CED funding.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. Use the Project Submission Guide through your regional business office. We track this initiative as Economic Development Initiative, Official Languages.

Initiative to Support Economic Development in Montréal's East End

This initiative sits under both REGI and QEDP. CED "will invest $30M in the coming years" in projects with economic spin-offs in Montréal's East End, and the Departmental Plan records it as $30 million over three years, 2024-27. The targeted territory's western border runs along Avenue Papineau from the rivière des Prairies to the St. Lawrence River. Projects in an adjacent territory can be considered on an exceptional basis if the spin-offs land in the East End.

Who can apply

Non-profit organizations, including those that provide services to businesses, SMEs, business associations, cooperatives and social economy businesses, cégeps and universities, and municipalities and municipal economic development agencies. SMEs with local reach are eligible on an exceptional basis, with priority for businesses arising from diversity or women's entrepreneurship, in promising industrial sectors, or with export potential. Who should not apply: a business whose project produces its spin-offs outside the targeted territory.

How much and on what terms

No minimum or maximum per project is published. For SMEs: generally up to 50% of authorized costs, repayable without interest, with repayments generally beginning two years after the project ends. For NPOs: non-repayable, generally up to 90%. Exceptions may apply for projects led by Indigenous organizations and for certain capital projects.

What it pays for

Revitalization and attractiveness projects: launching and growing businesses that work locally or regionally, including the social economy, developing assets such as tourism microdestinations, planning diversification through summits and studies, and setting up collective equipment in industrial zones. Reindustrialization projects: launching operations, demonstrating, adopting or adapting technologies including environmental technologies, raising productivity, expanding, entering strategic supply chains, and structuring a local ecosystem such as a circular economy in agri-food. On May 13, 2026, CED announced over $1 million in RTRI support for East End SMEs, and on July 6, 2026 it announced support for the relocation and expansion of Maison Théâtre in the East End.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. Contact your regional business office. SMEs and NPOs in the East End may also receive flexible conditions under the REGI and QEDP components above.

Northern Isolated Community Initiatives (NICI) Fund

The NICI Fund sits under QEDP and is part of the Food Policy for Canada. It has a $14.9 million budget over three years nationally, and CED receives $4.08 million to deliver it in Quebec, with $2.6 million planned for 2026-27. The targeted territory is Nunavik.

Who can apply

Food and agriculture businesses, non-profit organizations, sector associations, local, regional and Indigenous organizations and governments, cooperatives, social enterprises and economic development institutions. CED gives priority access to Inuit applicants for projects that benefit their communities. Who should not apply: organizations outside Nunavik.

How much and on what terms

Per-project amounts, repayment terms and maximum shares are not published on the program page. Ask the business office.

What it pays for

Starting or expanding food production, processing and distribution, strengthening local and regional food supply chains, and Indigenous, community-led and other projects that use innovative technologies or approaches to improve food security. On October 30, 2026, CED announced an investment in a food security project led by the Northern Village of Kuujjuaq.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. Contact CED. Information services are provided in English and French only. We track this fund as Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund.

Support for Festivals in the Greater Montréal Region

Under QEDP, CED funds festivals that draw visitors from outside Quebec. The page carries "Program status Open: We are accepting project proposals". Funding is provided over two years, for the 2025 and 2026 editions of the festivals, with a transitional approach for 2025 editions of festivals that received CED help before.

Who can apply

Festivals lasting between 5 and 35 days that can demonstrably attract international tourists and that have free programming for the general public, with an overall marketing strategy that includes an international component. The targeted area is Montréal, Laval, the Agglomération de Longueuil, Marguerite-D'Youville, Roussillon, Les Jardins-de-Napierville, Le Haut-Saint-Laurent, Beauharnois-Salaberry, Vaudreuil-Soulanges, L'Assomption, Les Moulins, Deux-Montagnes, Thérèse-De Blainville and Mirabel. Who should not apply: cultural productions such as large-scale shows or theatre pieces, and exhibits, congresses, conferences and salons, which CED does not count as festivals.

How much and on what terms

CED's assistance must complement other sponsors. Festivals provide their corporate structure and details of internal and sub-contracted activities so CED can determine whether they qualify for a non-repayable contribution. Season, uniqueness, media reach, economic impacts, financial capacity, eco-friendliness and safety also count.

What it pays for

International marketing strategies and the development of products for the general public. Not eligible: artist fees including street performers, on-site signage, parking, security, maintenance and logistics, promotional products such as hats and pens, and the organization's operating costs.

Deadline and how to apply

No application deadline is stated. Contact your regional business office.

Targeted Support for Economically Vulnerable RCMs

This initiative, under REGI and QEDP, offers flexible conditions in eight RCMs that CED identified through its economic development index. The page carries "Program status Open: We are accepting project proposals". The eight are: in Côte-Nord, MRC du Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent. In Gaspésie and Îles-de-la-Madeleine, MRC Avignon, MRC de La Haute-Gaspésie and MRC du Rocher-Percé. In Mauricie, MRC La Tuque. In Nord-du-Québec, Administration régionale Kativik. In Outaouais, MRC de Pontiac and MRC de La Vallée-de-la-Gatineau. These flexibilities are in addition to those already offered to Quebec's 75 RCMs with low growth potential.

Who can apply

SMEs, non-profit organizations including those that serve businesses, business associations, cooperatives, cégeps and universities, and municipalities and municipal economic development agencies, all within the eight RCMs. Who should not apply: organizations outside the eight RCMs, who should check whether their RCM is on the list of 75 low-growth RCMs instead.

How much and on what terms

For SMEs, the official page states financial assistance of up to 75% of authorized costs, generally repayable without interest and without a guarantee, with repayments beginning two years after the project ends. For NPOs, non-repayable assistance of up to 90% of authorized costs. No per-project minimum or maximum is published.

What it pays for

The same revitalization and reindustrialization projects as the East End initiative, plus three flexibilities. In tourism: accommodation projects in all categories of establishment, and improvements to attractions. In agri-food, fisheries, forestry and mining: primary processing projects, even if they are not innovative. In community vitality: services or retail businesses deemed essential because they retain or strengthen the entrepreneurial base, including in remote and isolated regions.

Deadline and how to apply

No deadline is stated. Contact your regional business office. We track this initiative as Targeted support for Quebec's economically vulnerable RCMs.

Community Futures Program: the SADC and CAE Network

The Community Futures Program (Programme de développement des collectivités, PDC) is a national program. In Quebec, CED funds the community development organizations rather than businesses directly. The 2026-27 Departmental Plan records $177 million under the renewed agreement covering 2024-29 for Community Futures Development Corporations (SADCs) and Business Development Centres (CAEs). CED's index labels it an "External Program".

Who can apply

Anyone with a local development project applies to the Réseau des SADC et CAE, not to CED. CED's page says: "contact the Réseau des SADC et CAE directly to find the organization that serves your area." The regional information page lists the SADC or CAE for each region.

How much and on what terms

Amounts, repayment terms and deadlines are set by each SADC or CAE and are not stated on CED's pages.

Deadline and how to apply

There is no CED application. Find your local SADC or CAE on the regional information page and contact it directly. This is also where CED sends businesses in sectors that REGI and QEDP exclude.

Programs That Are Paused or Closed

These programs still appear on CED's site and in third-party listings. CED's own status wording on November 8, 2026 is quoted in the table.

The Black Entrepreneurship Program Ecosystem Fund was renewed nationally with $189 million over 2025-30, so a future call is possible, but none is open and the submission deadline of the last call is not on the English page. Homebuilding manufacturers can still apply under REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity. We keep the closed homebuilding stream listed as Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative for reference. Current tourism support runs through QEDP Diversify your economy and the festivals program.

National Initiatives Delivered by CED

Seven regional development agencies deliver the same federal initiatives with regional terms. The Quebec terms are summarized here, and the regional development agencies pillar guide compares all seven.

How CED Compares with the Other Regional Development Agencies

CED's territory is a single province. It covers every region of Quebec, from Montréal to Nunavik, with 12 regional business offices serving 17 administrative regions, and the same office may serve more than one region. Its 2026-27 Departmental Plan sets total planned spending at $415,837,510, including internal services, with $390,355,805 for its core responsibility of developing Quebec's economy and 357 planned full-time equivalents. The same plan records net spending of $287.2 million on a different accounting basis. It also records spending reductions under the Comprehensive Expenditure Review of $24,382,000 in 2026-27, rising to $48,764,000 in 2028-29, with about 49 fewer full-time equivalents by then.

Three features stand out when you read CED's pages next to the national initiative descriptions. First, CED attaches a two-year repayment holiday to its SME funding under REGI, QEDP, the Official Languages initiative and the Montréal East End initiative. Each of those pages carries the words "Repayment begins two years after the end of the project". Second, CED's Build Communities Strong Fund delivery is split, with $98 million administered by the Government of Quebec for cultural infrastructure under the July 10, 2026 agreement and $119 million administered by CED. Third, CED's RDII page says the agency "prioritizes business growth and productivity projects" in Quebec, with ecosystem projects only on an exceptional basis.

CED also carries Quebec-only initiatives that have no equivalent in its national programs: the Montréal East End initiative, the festivals program, the NICI Fund in Nunavik and the eight vulnerable RCMs. For the other six agencies, see our guides to ACOA, FedDev Ontario, FedNor, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan and CanNor, and the pillar guide for the full comparison.

Stacking CED Funding with SR&ED and IRAP

CED's REGI, QEDP, RAII and RDII pages do not state a cap on total government assistance, and they do not tell you to exclude SR&ED-eligible costs. Two pages do address stacking. The Build Communities Strong Fund page states "Combination of government assistance: up to 100%". The RTRI page says businesses may receive support from other federal, provincial, territorial or municipal programs "provided there is no duplication of funding for the same costs". It requires you to disclose all government assistance received or requested. It also warns that liquidity support may be reduced to account for other government assistance. The closed Black Entrepreneurship Program call capped stacking at 100%.

In practice, the three programs fund different work. SR&ED is a tax credit on experimental development that resolves technological uncertainty. NRC IRAP funds R&D projects through an Industrial Technology Advisor. CED funds adoption, productivity, commercialization, market development and infrastructure. Keep the R&D costs in the SR&ED claim or the IRAP project and the deployment and growth costs in the CED application, so that no cost appears in two places. Government assistance received for a cost also reduces the SR&ED expenditure pool for that cost, which is one more reason to keep the budgets separate. Because CED's pages do not state a general stacking limit, ask your program officer for the limit that applies to your program before you sign the contribution agreement.

How to Apply: Step by Step

CED has no open portal and no fillable PDF to download. The process on the "Apply for financial assistance" guide is a conversation first and a form second.

1. Pick the program and check the sector rules. Match your project to REGI, QEDP, RTRI, RAII, RDII or the Build Communities Strong Fund. Check the ineligible-sector list first: retail, food services, transportation, housing construction, daycare, hair and beauty salons, and nightclubs, bars and cabarets. If you are in one of them, look at the eight vulnerable RCMs or your local SADC or CAE.
2. Contact your regional business office. Call 1-800-561-0633 (TTY 1-844-805-8727), Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on statutory holidays, or use the CED funding programs online form. The contact page does not state the time zone. If you already have a CED advisor, contact them directly. For the RTRI, CED says it will contact you within one business day. Offices meet you in person by appointment or virtually, and the Business Information Service pays special attention to organizations with fewer than 100 employees.
3. Prepare your project summary. Have your business plan on hand, or a summary with a description of the business, the number of employees, managers and shareholders, your products, services and business model, your current and target markets, your tangible competitive advantages, recent financial statements, the project's objectives and planned activities, its total cost and financing, its start and end dates, and its expected benefits.
4. Get the eligibility decision and the form. The business office determines whether the project is eligible. If it is, a team member sends the application form to your Client Space and tells you which additional documents to provide. If it is not, CED refers you to other sources of information and funding. For the Build Communities Strong Fund, run the online self-assessment tool first.
5. Submit the signed form before you spend. "Costs incurred before the official submission of the duly signed application form for financial assistance are generally not eligible." Tell CED if any costs have already been incurred. The exceptions are stated per program: RAII costs are eligible from the application date, RTRI pivot projects may start up to 12 months before application, and Build Communities Strong Fund costs can be retroactive 12 months but no earlier than April 30, 2026. If a representative presents the project, they must be registered in the Registry of Lobbyists, and their fees cannot be reimbursed by CED.
6. Answer follow-up requests and sign the agreement. CED sends an acknowledgment of receipt, may ask for more information during the review, and decides under its service standards once the file is complete. A favourable decision comes with an agreement to sign and the steps for submitting claims. An unfavourable decision comes with the reasons.
7. Plan the repayment schedule. For SMEs under REGI, QEDP, the Official Languages initiative and the Montréal East End initiative, repayment is interest-free and begins two years after the end of the project. RTRI repayable contributions are interest-free with the schedule set in the agreement. Build your cash flow forecast around those dates before you accept.

How GrantOps Handles a CED Application

A CED file is won or lost in step three and step five. The business office decides eligibility on the project summary you give it over the phone. The form that follows asks for the same facts in more detail: headcount, financial statements, the project budget and schedule, the financing plan, and the expected results that CED scores against. GrantOps connects to the tools your company already runs, from engineering and project trackers to accounting and HR systems, and assembles that evidence from your own records rather than from memory.

For an RTRI file, that means a payroll-based liquidity calculation and a 12-month cash flow forecast that match your books, export sales evidence by customer and country, and a pivot project budget split between incremental and existing costs. For a REGI or RAII file, it means a technical narrative built from your repositories and tickets, and a budget by cost category with SR&ED-eligible R&D kept out of it. It also means a repayment forecast that starts two years after the project end date. Every number stays traceable to a source document, so the program officer can verify it and so a later audit finds the same figures. GrantOps also tracks the dates that matter for CED: the March 31, 2028, 2029, 2030 and 2031 end dates, the two-year repayment start, and the rule that costs before the signed form are at your own risk.

You approve every submission before it goes to CED. Start free, or book 30 minutes and we will map your project to the right stream.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CED, or DEC, and who does it fund?

Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, called Développement économique Canada pour les régions du Québec or DEC in French, is the federal regional development agency for all regions of Quebec. Its mission is the long-term economic development of Quebec's regions, with special attention to those where growth is slow or productive employment is inadequate. It funds small and medium-sized enterprises, non-profit organizations, municipalities and regional county municipalities, cégeps and universities, and Indigenous organizations through two umbrella programs, REGI and QEDP, and the national initiatives it delivers in Quebec. Its 2026-27 planned spending is $415,837,510, and it works through 12 regional business offices.

Is there a deadline to apply for CED funding in 2026?

No. CED does not post application deadlines. On November 8, 2026 every current program carried the labels Ongoing program and Accepting applications, or Open: We are accepting project proposals. The hard dates that exist are end dates, not closing dates. RTRI liquidity assistance must end no later than March 31, 2028, RTRI pivot projects must be completed by March 31, 2029, Build Communities Strong Fund projects must be completed by March 31, 2030, and the RAII runs in Quebec up to March 31, 2031. No CED page states a time zone for any of these dates. Funding depends on availability, so apply when the project is ready.

Is CED funding a grant or a loan?

It depends on who you are. For SMEs under REGI, QEDP, the Official Languages initiative and the Montréal East End initiative, CED funding generally covers up to 50% of authorized costs and is repayable without interest, with repayment beginning two years after the end of the project. For non-profit organizations it is generally non-repayable at up to 90% of costs, or 50% for capital projects. The RTRI is the exception for businesses: liquidity assistance and pivot projects up to $1 million are non-repayable, and larger pivot projects are repayable and interest-free. The Build Communities Strong Fund is non-repayable for every eligible applicant.

How much can a Quebec business get from CED?

CED publishes rates rather than dollar ranges for most programs. The REGI, RAII, RDII, quantum and QEDP pages give no minimum or maximum per project, only a maximum share of costs: 50% for SMEs under REGI and RAII, 75% under RDII, and 90% for non-profits. The programs with published amounts are the RTRI, with up to $2 million in liquidity, up to $1 million non-repayable or over $1 million repayable for pivot projects, $3 million combined non-repayable and $20 million in total, and the Build Communities Strong Fund, with $125,000 to $1 million per project. Festivals in Greater Montréal get $50,000 to $700,000 by tier.

Who is not eligible for CED funding?

Under REGI, QEDP and the Official Languages initiative, CED lists retail businesses such as clothing stores, grocery stores and automobile sales and maintenance outlets, food services such as restaurants and cafés, transportation services, housing construction, daycare services, hair and beauty salons, and nightclubs, bars and cabarets as examples of ineligible applicants. Under the RTRI, retail, local consumer services such as hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation, oil and gas extraction and construction services are generally not eligible, and businesses need at least $1 million in revenue. Municipalities and public agencies are ineligible for the RAII. CED points ineligible businesses to its network of regional partners, including the SADC and CAE network.

Is Support for Regional Quantum Innovation still open?

Yes. Some third-party listings describe CED's quantum program as closed, and that is wrong as of November 8, 2026. The program page says Ongoing program and Accepting applications, the Financing and services index dated October 22, 2026 lists Quantum Innovation as Accepting applications, and the French index says Accepte les demandes. The 2026-27 Departmental Plan gives it a budget of $2.2 million in 2026-27, and on August 14, 2026 CED announced close to $2 million for the quantum company Femtum. SMEs in quantum or related sectors, SMEs adopting quantum technology, supporting non-profits and post-secondary institutions can apply through a regional business office.

How do I apply to CED or DEC?

CED has no open portal. You start by contacting your regional business office, by phone at 1-800-561-0633 or through the online CED funding programs form. The office determines whether your project is eligible, and if it is, a team member sends an application form to your Client Space along with the list of documents to provide. Have a business plan or a project summary ready: description of the business, employees and shareholders, products and markets, competitive advantages, financial statements, project objectives, total cost and financing, start and end dates and expected benefits. Costs incurred before the signed form is officially submitted are generally not eligible. For the Build Communities Strong Fund, complete the online self-assessment tool first.

Can I combine CED funding with SR&ED or IRAP?

CED's pages do not state a general cap on total government assistance for REGI, QEDP, RAII or RDII. The Build Communities Strong Fund page states that the combination of government assistance may reach up to 100%, and the RTRI page allows support from other federal, provincial, territorial or municipal programs as long as the same costs are not funded twice, with all government assistance disclosed. In practice, keep experimental R&D in your SR&ED claim or IRAP project and put adoption, productivity and commercialization costs in the CED application, so no cost appears in two places. Confirm the stacking limit for your program with your CED program officer before you sign.

Sources

All program facts above were read on November 8, 2026 from the agency's official pages.

• CED home page
• Financing and services index
• Financement et services, French index
• Apply for financial assistance guide
• Contact us
• About CED
• Regional information and offices
• Business Information Services
• REGI program page
• REGI Business Scale-up and Productivity
• REGI Regional Innovation Ecosystems
• QEDP program page
• QEDP Diversify your economy
• Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative, English
• Initiative régionale en matière d'intelligence artificielle, French
• Regional Tariff Response Initiative
• Regional Defence Investment Initiative
• Build Communities Strong Fund, Local Impact Stream
• Support for Regional Quantum Innovation
• Economic Development Initiative, Official Languages
• Montréal's East End initiative
• Northern Isolated Community Initiatives Fund
• Festivals in the Greater Montréal region
• Targeted support for vulnerable RCMs
• Community Futures Program
• Jobs and Growth Fund, Quebec
• Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative
• Black Entrepreneurship Program call for projects
• Social Economy Mutualization Projects
• Incubators and accelerators call for proposals
• Previous financing programs
• 2026-27 Departmental Plan
• News release, July 15, 2026: RAII investments
• News release, July 10, 2026: BCSF agreement with Quebec
• News release, April 7, 2026: steel sector RTRI
• News release, May 21, 2026: aluminum processors RTRI
• News release, August 21, 2026: Gilbert Products RTRI
• News release, August 14, 2026: Femtum quantum
• News release, February 18, 2026: defence sector
• News release, March 24, 2026: UQO defence
• News release, April 13, 2026: defence ecosystem
• News release, May 13, 2026: East End RTRI
• News release, July 6, 2026: Maison Théâtre
• News release, October 30, 2026: Kuujjuaq food security