ESSOR (Investissement Québec)
ESSOR is an Investissement Québec program for Quebec business projects. Its first stream pays non-repayable contributions of 50% for feasibility studies and digital projects; its second offers a loan, or a loan guarantee of up to 70%, on productivity and expansion projects of $100,000 or more. Intake is continuous until the framework ends on 31 March 2027.
Start an applicationProgram facts
| Type | Grant (non-repayable), loan or loan guarantee |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Quebec businesses. Volets 1B and 1C need 250 employees or fewer and $2.5M or more in annual revenue. Volet 1A excludes construction, most restaurants, finance and health. |
| Amount or rate | Volet 1, non-repayable at 50%: 1A feasibility study up to $50K; 1B digital diagnostic or plan up to $20K; 1C carrying out a digital plan up to $50K. Volet 2: a loan, or a loan guarantee of up to 70%, on projects of $100K or more, with combined government aid capped at 50%. |
| Intake status | Continuous intake. The framework ends 31 March 2027, and Investissement Québec says it can suspend intake without notice. Budget 2026-27 added $105M. |
| Run by | Investissement Québec, for the Government of Quebec |
| Checked on | 8 October 2026 |
| Official page | https://www.investquebec.com/fr/financement/programmes-gouvernementaux/essor |
How it pays
Volet 1 covers 50% of eligible costs, so the business pays the other 50%. On a $40,000 digital plan under volet 1C, that is $20,000 from the business.
Volet 2 is not a grant. It is a loan, or a guarantee of up to 70% on a loan, for projects of $100,000 or more. Because combined government aid is capped at 50%, at least half of a volet 2 project has to come from the business and from private lenders.
Funding your share while you wait
That non-government half is the usual reason an ESSOR project stalls. If the project is equipment, the equipment itself can be financed. If it is a broader expansion, a term loan can carry a defined share over several years, and a line of credit covers costs that land before any aid is paid.
Voxen arranges these on the business's revenue and bank statements, like any other file. An ESSOR agreement is not used as security, and Voxen plays no part in Investissement Québec's decision.
The Voxen products that fit this program. Ranges are the ones on each product page; every file is assessed on the business's revenue and bank statements.
| Financing | Range | What it covers here |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment Financing | Equipment Value: $10,000 – $5,000,000 | The equipment itself, whether a machine, a truck or a heating system, financed against that equipment. |
| Term Loan | Loan Amount: $10,000 – $2,000,000 | Your share of a larger project, repaid in fixed instalments over several years. |
| Line of Credit | Credit Limit: $10,000 – $1,000,000 | Working capital while you wait for a reimbursement or a refund. Draw what the project needs, pay it down when the money arrives. |
Related programs
| Program | Type | Status | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| FLI and FLS local funds | Loan | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| C3i tax credit | Tax credit | Open | 8 October 2026 |
| FORCE (Investissement Québec) | Loan | Open | 8 October 2026 |
- Local investment funds (FLI) and local solidarity funds (FLS)
- Investment and innovation tax credit (C3i)
- FORCE (Investissement Québec tariff fund)
- More programs for this situation: Local and project loan funds
Not sure which program fits? Ask us
Tell us about the project and we will tell you which programs are worth a look and what financing could carry your share. Voxen does not prepare grant applications; if you want help with one, we can point you to specialists who do that work.
Notice
Voxen Capital is a private financing broker, not a government body. It does not decide, influence or guarantee any grant, credit or government loan, and it does not prepare grant applications. Program details change: check the official page before you apply.
Frequently asked questions
What size does my business need to be for ESSOR?
For volets 1B and 1C, 250 employees or fewer and at least $2.5 million in annual revenue. Volet 1A has no stated size threshold but excludes construction, most restaurants, finance and health.
Is ESSOR a grant or a loan?
Volet 1 is non-repayable at 50% of costs. Volet 2 is a loan or a loan guarantee of up to 70%, for projects of $100,000 or more.
How long will ESSOR take applications?
Intake is continuous, and the current framework ends on 31 March 2027. Investissement Québec says it can suspend intake without notice, so check the official page before planning around it.
How much of the project do I fund myself?
Under volet 1, half. Under volet 2, combined government aid is capped at 50%, so at least half comes from the business and private lenders.