DÉPART key parameters.
Who was eligible for DÉPART?
- Quebec businesses operating in designated rural economic diversification zones
- Projects diversifying local economic activity beyond single-industry dependence
- For-profit companies and social economy enterprises in eligible regions
- Projects creating or maintaining jobs in targeted communities
What DÉPART funded.
- Establishment of new businesses or expansion of existing businesses in eligible zones
- Projects diversifying economic activity in single-industry-dependent communities
- Investment in new production capacity or technology adoption
- Job creation and retention in rural Quebec
Active alternatives while DÉPART is suspended.
- ESSOR (Investissement Québec) — digital transformation and strategic investment grants for Quebec SMEs
- SR&ED — federal R&D tax credit available to all Quebec businesses
- NRC-IRAP — federal industrial R&D assistance
- Regional development funds — contact your regional CLD or MRC for local programs
- C3I — industrial innovation collaborative contribution
Your questions about DÉPART.
Is DÉPART currently accepting applications?
No. DÉPART applications are currently suspended by Investissement Québec. Hubvention monitors for reopening. Companies in rural Quebec seeking diversification funding should explore ESSOR, SR&ED, NRC-IRAP, and regional development funds in the interim.
What regions does DÉPART target?
DÉPART targets designated rural Quebec regions facing economic challenges from single-industry dependence. Eligible zones are defined by Investissement Québec based on regional economic indicators. Contact Hubvention for a current eligibility check once the program reopens.
What types of projects does DÉPART support?
DÉPART supports establishment of new businesses and expansion of existing ones in eligible zones, projects diversifying economic activity beyond single-industry dependence, new production capacity, technology adoption, and job creation and retention.
What are the active funding alternatives for rural Quebec companies?
Active alternatives include ESSOR (Investissement Québec digital transformation), SR&ED (federal R&D credit), NRC-IRAP (federal industrial R&D), C3I (industrial innovation), and regional development funds through local CLDs and MRCs.
How does Hubvention prepare a DÉPART file in advance?
Hubvention prepares the full application structure — eligibility documentation, project narrative, financial modelling, and supporting materials — so it can be submitted within days of the program reopening. Early submission is critical given limited budgets.
Can DÉPART be combined with SR&ED?
When DÉPART is open, it can generally be stacked with SR&ED as long as the same dollar of expenditure is not double-counted. SR&ED is a tax credit applied post-expenditure, while DÉPART is a grant — they serve different cost bases and can complement each other.
Will DÉPART reopen?
No reopening date has been confirmed by Investissement Québec. Hubvention tracks all IQ program statuses and will notify clients as soon as DÉPART or a successor program becomes available.
How does Hubvention support rural Quebec companies today?
For rural Quebec companies, Hubvention structures funding stacks using SR&ED, NRC-IRAP, ESSOR, C3I, and relevant sectoral programs. Our 20-minute eligibility audit identifies the right programs for your specific context.
DÉPART — Start your file.
We handle the full mandate: eligibility audit, file structuring, submission, follow-up.
- Structured mandate
- Confidentiality guaranteed
- 20 minutes