The next deadline date is Monday, February 27, 2012. All project files must be received before 4 p.m.

Fondation du maire : le Montréal inc. de demain accepts project files all year round but processes them in Spring and Fall only. Fall 2012's deadline is September 10.

• Between $5,000 and $30,000. Please note that the Foundation will not contribute the entire start-up costs.

Entrepreneurs that wish to obtain a grant must follow these steps:

• Comply with the eligibility criteria

• Submit a comprehensive file before one of the deadline dates stated above. Please note that submitting a file does not mean you will be awarded a grant.

• Be between 18 and 35 years of age inclusively
  
  
• Anticipate being fully employed by your own business from the moment it is launched
  
  
• Be a Canadian citizen or a Permanent resident
  
  

• Reside in a borough or in a reconstituted city of Montréal. To obtain the list of boroughs and of reconstituted cities, click here

• Have been in business, within a borough or a reconstituted city of Montréal, for less than twelve months or be able to start-up a business in the twelve months following the project’s acceptance. To obtain the list of boroughs and reconstituted cities, click here

• Hold at least the majority of the company's shares (over 50%) or jointly hold them with other eligible entrepreneurs, as the case may be.

* For example, when submitting for a grant for the Spring 2012 evaluation cycle, candidates must meet all of the above criteria at the latest on February 27, 2012.

The following projets are not eligible for a grant:

Projects of a sexual, religious or political nature – Bars, discotheques – Alternative and natural medicine (unless the entrepreneur is a member of a recognized order or association) – Student projects: academic projects or internships – R & D projects – Franchises – Cooperatives (with the exception of work cooperatives) – Non-profit organizations – Artistic projects

The following entrepreneurs are not eligible for a grant:

Full-time students at the time of the business start-up – Self-employed workers.

Incomplete project files will be automatically rejected

Step 1: Submitting your project file

First and foremost, you need to fill out the grant application form and submit a complete project file, which includes a business plan with forecasted financial statements and proof of your eligibility. Incomplete project files by either deadlines will be rejected. Projet files can be delivered in person or sent by mail. In both cases, the project file must be received by the Foundation before the deadline date. We recommend that you deliver your projet file in person so we can verify that it is complete.

Step 2: Evaluation of your business plan

The project files are processed within 10 weeks of the deadline date. The Foundation looks for projects featuring an important competitive advantage, as well as job creation, profitability and innovation. You could be called upon for an interview, during which volunteers evaluate your business plan according to specific criteria and recommend a grant or not. Don't forget: submitting a file does not mean you will be awarded a grant.

Step 3: Awarding of a grant
Each grant recommended by the evaluators are then confirmed by a Grants Committee. The decision to award a grant or not will depend on available funds and on the quality of the project files received.

The grant is offered in two instalments. In order to receive both instalments, the entrepreneur needs to fulfill certain requirements, depending on the nature of the project. These requirements will be explained to you during a later meeting.

Step 4: Disclosure of the decision
Should you win a grant from the Foundation, one of our Coordinators will contact you during the week of May 14, 2012 and invite you to an information session.

Candidates that were not selected to receive a grant will receive an email during the week of May 14, 2012 informing them of that decision.

Please note that grant application files will not be returned and will be destroyed within 10 weekdays following the disclosure of the decision.