Funding and Grants for Human Resources

Your hiring, training or skills development projects can be funded through HR grants. These government subsidies cover a significant portion of your HR investments and directly lighten the pressure on your budget.

Between the persistent labour shortage and the rising costs of recruitment and training, many Quebec businesses struggle to finance team growth.

Yet programs exist to share this financial risk. At Avinova, we help companies identify relevant programs and optimize the funding of their HR initiatives.

Sector Challenges and the Role of HR Funding and Grants

The human resources landscape in Quebec is marked by significant challenges that directly affect companies’ ability to grow and innovate. The labour shortage is no longer a passing problem, but a structural reality forcing organizations to rethink their talent attraction and retention strategies.

The costs associated with hiring, from posting offers to onboarding new recruits, continue to rise.

At the same time, continuing education has become essential to keeping skills current and fostering employee engagement. However, these training programs represent a considerable investment. Staff turnover, often exacerbated by fierce competition for talent, adds additional financial and operational pressure.

For many SMEs, the difficulty of financing team growth becomes a major barrier to expansion. According to data from the Institut du Québec, the number of vacant positions remains high across several regions and sectors, illustrating persistent tension in the labour market. This situation forces companies not only to be more creative in their recruitment, but also to invest more in retaining current employees, which increases their operational costs.

Grants and Financial Assistance for Human Resources

Faced with these challenges, the Quebec and Canadian governments have established a variety of HR grants and financial assistance, whose main objective is to share the financial risk with businesses and encourage them to invest in their human capital.

These incentives can cover a wide range of eligible expenses, from new employee salaries to external trainer fees, to costs related to implementing new HR technologies.

The principle is simple: support projects that improve productivity, develop skills, and create quality jobs. However, access to these funds requires rigorous planning and excellent structuring of applications. It is not simply about filling out a form, but about presenting a solid business project that demonstrates tangible economic impact.

Government programs seek to fund initiatives with measurable outcomes, such as creating sustainable jobs, increasing productivity, or developing new skills aligned with tomorrow’s economic needs.

A well-structured application must go beyond simply describing a need; it must tell a compelling story about the company’s vision and its contribution to the Quebec ecosystem.

What HR Projects Can Be Funded?

Many HR management initiatives can benefit from financial support. The range of eligible projects is broad and aims to meet the varied needs of companies. Here are some concrete examples of projects that can be funded by HR grants:

• Hiring and onboarding new employees: Programs supporting hiring, including for strategic positions or specific populations (youth, newcomers, etc.).
• Workforce training and professional development: Funding for technical training, certifications, or soft skills development.
• Strategic skills development: Assistance for training employees in new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, or for export-related positions.
• Structuring and optimizing HR processes: Assistance for developing essential HR tools for daily management (employee handbook, interview questionnaires, succession plan, etc.) or for structuring a dedicated HR department, generally relevant once a company reaches 40 to 50 employees.

To assess the funding potential of your projects, an initial diagnostic is often the first step. Assess the funding potential of your HR projects.

Avinova’s Approach to HR Projects

At Avinova, our role is not to create HR projects on your behalf, but to optimize the funding of those you wish to implement. Our approach is distinguished by strategic support at each stage of the process. We begin with an in-depth analysis of your needs and projects to identify the most relevant and advantageous funding programs.

Once the right opportunities are targeted, we validate your eligibility in detail to ensure that your project meets all the criteria. Then, our team of experts supports you in assembling and justifying your files. We highlight the economic impact of your project and ensure that every expense is properly documented.

Our mission continues until funding is obtained, ensuring the necessary follow-ups with government agencies. This includes managing communications, responding to requests for additional information and preparing the follow-up reports required by the programs.

We act as an extension of your team, a strategic partner who ensures that the funding process is as smooth and efficient as possible, allowing you to stay focused on managing your business.

Why Get Support for HR Funding?

Navigating the HR grants ecosystem can quickly become a full-time job. The eligibility criteria are often complex and the administrative requirements very heavy. Attempting to do it alone carries significant risks. A poorly prepared or incomplete file can result in a denial, causing you to lose a valuable funding opportunity.

Getting support from experts minimizes these risks and maximizes the amounts obtained. A specialist knows the subtleties of each program and knows how to position your project to be viewed favorably by evaluators.

This support also represents considerable time savings for your HR teams. It is an investment that translates into a direct return, both financially and operationally. Beyond obtaining funds, quality support provides you with a strategic vision. It helps you better structure your projects, identify growth opportunities, and strengthen your company’s credibility with financial partners.

Ultimately, it is a catalyst that accelerates your development and secures your investments.

Support Advantages	Description
Maximized amounts	Identification of all stackable aids and application optimization.
Reduced denial risk	Assembly of a solid file that meets evaluator expectations.
Significant time savings	Taking charge of administrative complexity and follow-ups.
Strategic alignment	Advice for aligning your HR projects with government priorities.

Take Action with Avinova

HR grants represent a concrete lever for funding your hiring, training or HR modernization projects. Whether you plan to onboard new talent, train your teams in emerging technologies or structure your processes, programs exist to share the financial risk.

The success of your application relies on rigorous preparation and precise knowledge of eligibility criteria. Avinova supports you in identifying relevant programs, building solid files and maximizing your chances of approval.

Have an HR project to fund? Assess your funding options.

FAQ

What HR grants are offered in Quebec?

HR grant programs primarily cover workforce training, employee hiring and HR practice optimization. Services Québec programs can fund a portion of eligible expenses for training projects, organizational diagnostics or system implementations. Eligibility depends on the project nature, industry sector and regional priorities. For current programs, consult Services Québec.

What is the process for obtaining an HR grant?

The process begins with identifying the relevant program, followed by validating your eligibility. You must then build a file that demonstrates the economic impact of your project. Eligible expenses often include training salaries and consultant fees. Specialized support optimizes your chances of approval and maximizes amounts obtained.

What is the difference between an HR grant and a tax credit?

The difference between a grant and an HR tax credit lies in how they are awarded and when they are received. A grant is direct financial aid paid by a government agency after approval, subject to specific conditions. It can be paid before, during or after the project. An HR tax credit is a fiscal benefit claimed retroactively, based on eligible expenses already incurred such as salaries or training.

What is the difference between a refundable and a non-refundable tax credit?

Tax credits fall into two categories. A refundable tax credit allows you to receive an amount even if no tax is owed, with the excess paid to the taxpayer. A non-refundable tax credit serves only to reduce tax payable to zero, with no refund of the excess. Refundable tax credits therefore directly improve cash flow, while non-refundable ones offer tax relief only if taxes are payable. Consult Revenu Québec for available programs.