96, rue Turgeon, bur. 200 Sainte-Thérèse QC J7E 3H9 450 818-4830 fondsmicrocredit.qc.ca Annual Report

20172018 Background 18 years of service to the community!

In addition to being an engine of The organization intervenes in a sector neglected by others. It innovation and support in the field of occupies a unique niche that neither overlaps nor duplicates entrepreneurship, as well as contributing the efforts of other players present in the entrepreneurial to the economic and social well-being ecosystem. It fills a void in the technical and financial support of of Quebec for more than 25 years, entrepreneurs who do not have access to conventional sources microcredit is the first step in our province’s of funding. chain of solidarity financing mechanisms. Microcredit is the gateway for many Over the years, the FCAMC has developed a strong expertise in entrepreneurs who have little or no access the field of entrepreneurship. Indeed, it has become a leading to conventional sources of funding. organization in the development of the Lower Laurentians region and, more recently, in the southern part of Lanaudière. The Fonds communautaire d’accès au micro crédit (FCAMC) was established 18 The FCAMC serves the entire Lower Laurentians region, years ago in collaboration with various specifically the RCMs of Thérèse-De Blainville, Deux-Montagnes partners in the Lower Laurentians region. and Mirabel. Also, our development efforts aimed at the southern part of Lanaudière are ongoing. The FCAMC is proud to offer funding and microcredit services to help launch various businesses. 2 Summary

Message from the President + Message from the Director...... 4

MicroEntreprendre...... 5

Capitalization + Services offered...... 6

Results...... 7

Partnerships...... 8-9

Training + Information...... 10

Participation + Organization...... 11

Highlight + OSEntreprendre Challenge...... 12

Board of Directors + Loan Committee...... 13

Team + Partners...... 14

Entrepreneurs 2017-2018...... 15-18 3 Message from the President Microcredit is a key component of regional economic development. It helps create new businesses, sometimes help to keep them afloat, but mostly, it provides a purpose to entrepreneurs who have all the required skills to succeed. Micro credit is an essential service, in the Lower Laurentians region as much as anywhere else. Over the years, the Fonds communautaire d’accès au micro-crédit has helped launch hundreds of businesses and has supported hundreds of entrepreneurs, and it also helped to create and maintain jobs. It has made a significant contribution to local economic development.

Underlying this ongoing success story is, of course, the business community, our institutional partners and all the organization’s donors. Without them, the FCAMC could not fulfill its mission. Our success is the result of a group effort! In order to achieve our mission, we also rely on the dedication of the FCAMC’s team. The administrators, the members of the loan committee as well as the employees are dedicated to helping the entrepreneurs achieve all the success they so richly deserve. I am proud to contribute to this success and thank my colleagues of the Board of Directors who, without exception, wish to renew their commitment toward microcredit. Together, we ensure a healthy stability and continuity.

Ginette Demers Message from the Director The fiscal year that is about to end (2017-2018) has again been full of challenges. First, discussions with respect to the renewal of our funding agreement with the government of Quebec have made significant progress. We wish to ensure the government’s financial contribution to our organization for the coming years. We have also renewed our agreements with the Economic Development Agency of Canada and Desjardins Microcredit to Businesses under Desjardins’ Solidarity-based finance program. We are also very proud that we are maintaining our affiliation to our national network. You will notice that we have created a new graphic signature that incorporates the colours of MicroEntreprendre.

Results in the field are once again very positive: we have achieved, even surpassed, our objectives in terms of businesses launched and have increased the local support provided to entrepreneurs. But the key to our success is the network of links that we are able to create between the investors, lenders and entrepreneurs who are at the heart of our mission and our commitment. We always keep in mind that our efforts are geared toward the entrepreneurs. Thank you all for believing in us and supporting us. I also wish to thank the FCAMC team that is a constant source of inspiration.

Mona Beaulieu

MISSION VISION The mission of the FCAMC is to help The vision of the FCAMC is to be the leader individuals who have limited or no in entrepreneurial microcredit, the motor of access to conventional sources of social inclusion and economic development funding get started on their entre- in the territory of the Lower Laurentians re- preneurial path. We achieve this by providing advice, support and gui- gion and the southern part of Lanaudière. dance and by providing access to funding to start their business and VALUES thus create their own jobs. Mutual assistance, equality and solidarity are the foundations of the actions asso- ciated with microcredit. It is our belief that every individual must be given the opportu- 4 nity to start his or her own business. MicroEntreprendre A new look for MicroEntreprendre and the FCAMC

Formerly known as the Réseau québécois du crédit communautaire, the national network to which the FCAMC belongs has a new name: MicroEntreprendre. This change was enacted on March 15, 2017, on the National Day of Community Credit. Since then, MicroEntreprendre adopted a new logo. Now, all the members of MicroEntreprendre are modifying their own logos and visual signatures to incorporate a reference to the national organization. Therefore, as of now, the FCAMC is modifying its graphic signature in order to include a reference to the national network of which it is a proud founding member. Over the past year, MicroEntreprendre continued the development of microcredit throughout Quebec thanks to the unflagging efforts of its members. The FCAMC is proud to be associated with this national network created in the year 2000.

Recognized as a tool for economic development by the National Assembly of Quebec, community credit enables the members of MicroEntreprendre to provide funding from socially responsible investments. This funding is gathered within the community and the private sector. The members of MicroEntreprendre to provide local and technical support to people who don’t have access to the usual funding and support networks to help them achieve their entrepreneurial project. Whether individual or collective, the project must allow people to achieve financial independence. Quebec microcredit supports projects for self-employment, small individual or collective businesses or social economy.

Where many see a risk, MicroEntreprendre, Quebec microcredit, sees human capital. 5 Capitalization Investing locally pays off!

One of the strengths behind our activity is without a doubt our capitalization fund. The money that is loaned to our entrepreneurs comes exclusively from the community. To build this fund, the FCAMC appeals to different players in our community. These investors and donors understand the excellence of our actions and have helped us accomplish our mission.

Our capitalization fund currently amounts to close to $425 000. Over the years, we have issued more than 240 loans and have maintained a repayment rate of 94%.

A few benefits of giving or subscribing to the FCAMC:

»» Supporting our mission »» Financing businesses projects and fostering job creation in our community

»» Making an ethical and responsible investment »» Getting a tax deduction (we have a registered charity number)

Many thanks to our financial partners, donors and investors! Without your support, our work would be impossible!

Services offered

»» Provide local support to our entrepreneurs »» Validate the businesses projects »» Help draft the business plan »» Provide funding in the form of microcredit »» Provide adequate post-financing follow-up »» Enable the development of entrepreneurial skills »» Organize activities to promote networking and overcome isolation 6 Results

The FCAMC helps people excluded from traditional funding sources to take their place in our society and to achieve financial independence. These are people who have limited or no access to conventional sources of funding or who, for various reasons, have a poor credit rating. To those who wish to improve their lot, we offer local support to develop or enhance their business plan and accompany them in achieving their project.

FOR FISCAL YEAR OVERVIEW OF THE 2017-2018: PAST 18 YEARS: 26 Number of loans approved 18% of new clients are non $912 000 francophones loaned 1 606 Hours of accompaniment 243 and follow-up loans granted

61% of loans are granted to 518 jobs created 33 young entrepreneurs Number of businesses created (35 years old or maintained and maintained or less) 55 Jobs created and maintained 22 (with and without loans) entrepreneurs from the Lanaudière area received services 94% from the FCAMC Repayment rate

During fiscal year 2016-2017, the FCAMC was the representative for Support for Self-Employment (SSE) program of Emploi-Québec for the RMC Thérèse-De Blainville. During this period, 36 entrepreneurs received support from the FCAMC. The follow-up continued in 2017-2018. 7 Partnerships

Desjardins Economic RCM Microcredit Development Thérèse-De to Businesses Agency of Canada Blainville

In March 2018, Caisses Desjardins The FCAMC will be able to In view of RCM Thérèse-De Blain- invited its Solidarity-based Finan- continue to provide services to ville’s action priorities, a new ce partners to an event and the English speaking community three year agreement has been announced that it was renewing of the Lower Laurentian region! In concluded between the RCM and its partnership agreement with the 2017, the government of Canada the FCAMC. FCAMC for the next three years announced the renewal of its under the Desjardins Microcredit to agreement with the FCAMC and a In essence, this agreement will Businesses program. financial contribution of more than help provide microcredit services $230 000 over three years. to entrepreneurs setting up within This partnership allows the territory of the RCM. This is an entrepreneurs to: The renewal of this agreement with excellent initiative that will help us · obtain personalized accompani- the Economic Development Agency support entrepreneurs even better ment and technical support; of Canada will allow us to offer and grant more loans. · obtain loans to get their project microcredit services to the English- off the ground; speaking community of the area. This collaboration also strengthens · contribute to the creation of Potential entrepreneurs, as well as the already solid ties between the sustainable jobs and the established entrepreneurs, use our FCAMC and the RCM Thérèse-De development of a supportive accompaniment and financing Blainville. community. services to start their businesses. In addition, English language Participating Caisses Desjardins: training is offered to entrepreneurs · Caisse Desjardins with the goal of developing their Thérèse-De Blainville entrepreneurial potential or their · Caisse Desjardins du business project. English speaking Lac des Deux-Montagnes entrepreneurs will therefore be · Caisse populaire Desjardins better equipped to participate de Mirabel more actively to the economic · Caisse Desjardins de l’Envolée growth of their community. · Caisse Desjardins de Saint- Eustache–Deux-Montagnes

Thank you for your support and your financial 8 contribution that back up the FCAMC’s mission! Partnerships

Futurpreneur Chamber of Mirabel Canada Commerce and économique Industry of the RCM Deux-Montagnes

For the past several years, the For the past several years, the For the past several years, the FCAMC has acted as the local FCAMC has been a member and FCAMC has been collaborating partner of Futurpreneur Canada a partner of the Chamber of with local partners to promote which offers young people, 39 years Commerce and Industry of the economic development. Mirabel old or less, loans of up to $15 000 to RCM Deux Montagnes which is a économique is the new economic fund the start up of a new business. group of business people working. development department of the The Futurpreneur Canada promo- The CCI2M meets the needs of City of Mirabel. It was created ters are also eligible to a $30 000 its members and looks out for after the abolition of the local loan from the BDC. their interests in order to promote development centres (CLD) and economic and social development the adoption of Bill 28 by the The FCAMC thanks its partner in the region. government of Quebec. Futurpreneur Canada for its sup- port and its financial contribution The FCAMC thanks its partner The FCAMC thanks its partner to FCAMC’s networking activities. CCI2M for its support, its financial Mirabel économique for its contribution and its involvement involvement within the loan com- within the loan committee and the mittee, its support and its financial Board of Directors. contribution to the networking activities organized by the FCAMC.

We thank our partners for their support and their financial contribution which have made the networking activities of the FCAMC possible. 9 Training

March/April/May 2017 December 2017 March 2018 Steps towards Know yourself as Basic bookkeeping successful an entrepreneur to for micro entrepreneurship grow your business entrepreneurs

Series of 5 workshops in English Workshop on success in business. Workshop on the accounting cycle. describing the steps to creating a solid business plan.

Information Web journal, Follow us on a 26th edition social media completed

The twenty-sixth edition of our The FCAMC has been very active bilingual Web journal has been on various social media platforms completed and put on line. like Facebook, Twitter and This journal presents news LinkedIn. This enabled us to share about our organization. information on our promoters and on our sector. 10 2017 2018 Participation

May 2017 October 2017 January 2018 Funding Meet-And- Women and “Career Week”

Greet – Growth/ winning jobs Presentation of the workshop CCI2M Show “Démarrer sa propre entreprise, “La création de votre emploi, du rêve à la réalité” c’est de l’entrepreneuriat” (starting a business, dream to Booth at the event organized (creating your job is by the Chamber of Commerce reality). Testimony from many entrepreneurship) of our promoters. and Industry of the Workshop aimed at women RCM Deux-Montagnes. wishing to join the job market Activity to stimulate growth and presented as part of and ensure the longevity a program preparing of your company. them for employment.

Organization Networking activity

July 2017 September 2017 Décember 2017 Golf tournament Icar Christmas “A boost to succeed Join the Christmas Dinner in business” Winning Team!

9 hole golf tournament which Networking activity requiring Networking activity to which was an opportunity to network participants to face challenges, local promoters were invited. with local business men and surpass themselves Opportunity to Meet-And- women and develop new and exhibit team work. Greet and create new business business opportunities. relationships during the holiday season. 11 Highlight — Featured entrepreneur

“I launched my business five provided support, they helped La Boîte Musicale, years ago. This year, I bought a me put together my business an entrepreneurial building which enabled me to plan, they helped me understand triple the surface area of the store. how to launch a business, they success! Customers come from far and were instrumental (forgive the wide to buy an instrument or have pun) in transforming an idea into Launched more than five years one repaired. a concrete project. The FCAMC ago, “La Boîte Musicale” sells and team has a lot of experience, they repairs musical instruments. The I now have four employees. And are a team of specialists! I am business has been a tremendous it all started with a helping hand grateful to the FCAMC. Thanks for success and the owner has from the Fonds communautaire everything.” acquired a commercial building in d’accès au micro-crédit. They gave me much more than funds. They Robert Jr. Millaire, Sainte-Thérèse. owner of La Boîte Musicale

OSEntreprendre Challenge — 20th Edition The OSEntreprendre challenge is a source of inspiration for entrepreneurs and helps create a Quebec that is proud, innovative, mobilized and prosperous. Several of our entrepreneurs participated in the challenge and some of them were crowned winners.

Local level: RCM Local level: RCM Regional level: Thérèse-De Blainville Deux-Montagnes Laurentians

Mr. Apollo Volkardt and Mr. Friedrich Ms. Aisse Gassama for Marché-Vivres- M. Pascal Laprade, M. Frédéric Proulx Volkardt of Teachus (Production Aliath Africaines, recipient of the “Coup de and M. Yan Lamoureux-Marboeuf Inc.), award recipients in the “Services Cœur“ (showstopper) award in the of “Noire et Blanche” at St-Eustache to businesses” category. “Commerce” category. received the “Award for Success” prize for enterprises in business. 12 Board of Directors 2017-2018

Ginette Demers François Mercier Mélanie Laroche Sébastien Lassonde President Vice-president Administrator Secretary

Louis-Philippe Bourgeois Patrick Roberge Mathieu Roy Administrator Treasurer Administrator Loan Committee 2017-2018

Claude Grenier Ginette Demers Johanne Tessier

François Mercier James Colmer Marie-Pier Couture 13 Team

Mona Beaulieu Danyelle Roy Julia Travassos [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Director Business Entrepreneurship Development Advisor Coordinator Partners

4 Korners Chamber of Commerce Immeubles Hillman André Poupart and Industry of Mirabel J.K.M. Mécanique Mobile André Villeneuve, MNA for Berthier Chamber of Commerce James Colmer, Consultation inc. Business Development and Industry of Les Moulins Kanesatake Economic Development Bank of Canada (BDC) Chamber of Commerce La Porte de l’Emploi Benoit Charrette, and Industry RCM of Deux-Montagnes Lise Lavallée, MNA for Repentigny MNA for Deux-Montagnes Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mario Laframboise, MNA for Blainville Caisse Desjardins de l’Envolée Thérèse-De Blainville Mathieu Lemay, MNA for Masson Caisse Desjardins de CIBLE-EMPLOI Mathieu Traversy, MNA for Terrebonne Saint-Eustache-Deux-Montagnes City of Sainte-Thérèse MicroEntreprendre Caisse Desjardins Claude Cousineau, MNA for Bertrand Ministère de l’Économie, du Lac des Deux-Montagnes Claude Surprenant, MNA for Groulx de la Science et de l’Innovation Caisse Desjardins Coopérative de solidarité des Mirabel Économique Thérèse-De Blainville entreprises d’économie sociale RCM Thérèse-De Blainvile Caisse populaire Desjardins des Laurentides (CSEESL) Nicolas Marceau, MNA for Rousseau de Mirabel Développement économique Rakabot Canadian Alternative Investment RCM Deux-Montagnes Religious Communities Cooperative (CAIC) Economic Development Service Canada Carrefour jeunesse-emploi Agency of Canada Service GoExport Inc. de la RCM Deux-Montagnes Emploi-Québec Simplement Concept Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi de Mirabel Femmessor Laurentides Sylvie D’Amours, MNA for Mirabel Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi Futurpreneur Canada Véronique Hivon, MNA for Joliette Thérèse-De Blainville François Mercier, mentor CEDEC Ethical Investment Group

14 We thank all our partners for their contribution! Entrepreneurs 2017 2018 AIGUISAGE KW MARKeTO Kyle Wood CUSTOM IDÉE SAINT-EUSTACHE José Manuel Cullel STE-MARTHE-SUR-LE-LAC

A vehicle fitted with Vanilla products! sharpening equipment! MARKeTO custom idée Aiguisage KW offers a distributes organic vanilla mobile sharpening service for products that are both work tools with blades. The delicious and nutritious in promoter will travel to the various formats. The products customer site in his vehicle are imported from Mexico. adapted for sharpening.

ÉLÉMENT BEAUTÉ BALANCE Mirence Mélyssa PRÉCISION INC. Jomphe Bacon Mathieu Latour MIRABEL Nicolas Latour POINTE-CALUMET Offering personalized beauty care! Custom-made industrial Élément Beauté offers and commercial scales! various beauty and cosmetic treatments including Balance Précision Inc. designs manicures, pedicures and industrial and commercial nail application and filling. scales and distributes them The cosmetologist also to Quebec companies in offers facial treatments and every business segment. the application of eyelash extensions.

ESPACE BIO’T CENTRE CHIROPRA- Sévrine Randol TIQUE HÉRITAGE BLAINVILLE Gabriel Desrosiers SAINT-JANVIER

Organic products free of Cutting edge any toxic substances! chiropractic care! Espace BIO’T offers skin care Centre Chiropratique Héritage treatments such as manicures, offers state-of-the-art pedicures and facial waxing. chiropractic treatments by Polishes used contain using adjustment techniques no toxic substances. that differ from the norm.

MARCHÉ-VIVRES- AFRICAINES Aisse Gassama STE-MARTHE-SUR–LE-LAC

Many exotic products now available! Marché-Vivres-Africaines offers food products, cosmetics and exotic clothing from the 16 Southern hemisphere, notably Africa. CITÉ GESTION IMAGINE TA VOIX ! Vanessa Paradis Geneviève Poirier Stéphanie Gallant BLAINVILLE POINTE-CALUMET

Customized professional Use your voice! service! Imagine ta voix! offers a Cité Gestion offers a real voice-integration service as estate management service to a tool for personal and social condominium syndicates and development by providing professional service promoters individual or group training by accompanying them in their sessions (singing lessons). daily management tasks.

CUISINE LES SERVICES EXTÉRIEURE SG BAC-LAVÉ INC. Stéphane Guay Véronique Gagnon BLAINVILLE David Bélanger SAINT-JANVIER Modular and evolutionary concepts Cleaning service for bins for exterior kitchens! and waste containers! Cuisine extérieure SG designs, Services Bac-Lavé offers a manufactures and installs cleaning service for compost modular and evolutionary bins, recycling bins and waste exterior kitchens that are both bins distributed by municipal modern and unique. governments to citizens taking part in composting programs.

DISTRIBUTION ALP MONTRÉAL Louise Pelletier COULEURS Alexandre Authier Frédéric Arsenault SAINT-EUSTACHE DEUX-MONTAGNES

Tires for special events, A very colourful service! luxury vehicles, etc.! Montréal Couleurs offers a Distribution ALP distributes tires marketing strategy support to vendors or individuals for service (printing, signage, Web special events like car races. and social media). The service This class of tire is also fitting offering extends from design to for luxury vehicles. installation of printed media, web content and marketing.

DYNASTIE Roberto Olivares Juarez Lilia Angélica Alfaro Vera BOIS-DES-FILION

Decorative objects made of silver Dynastie offers custom or ready-made silver objects and sculptures from Mexico. These sculptures are created using an electroplating process that covers the silver items. 17 PRODUCTION ATELIER ALIATH INC. (TEACH US) MÉCANIQUE Apollo Volkhardt MONDOR Friedrich Volkhardt Jean-Simon Mondor SAINTE-THÉRÈSE SAINT-EUSTACHE

Selling knowledge by way of a Web application! Automotive diagnostic Using an Internet site and a service! Web application, Production Atelier mécanique Mondor Aliath Inc. proposes a service offers various automotive that enables professors, services (general mechanic individuals and companies services, electrical maintenance to sell their knowledge by and repair of diesel and gas providing classes engines) after a diagnostic is and training sessions. issued by our expert promoter.

HÉBERGEMENT LES MOMOSKI PIEDS SUR TERRE COUTURE Stanislas Balzotti Maude Poudrier Emmanuel Gamache DEUX-MONTAGNES SAINT-CALIXTE Stylist for your Unusual housing furry friends! experiences! Momoski Couture creates, Hébergement les pieds sur develops and sells clothing terre offers unusual housing and accessories for your pets. experiences of the “ready The line offers comfort, quality to camp” variety. Sites offer and style for your everyday amenities and private spaces in companions. a natural and environmentally responsible framework.

CONSULTANTS SSP INFORMATIQUES Patrick Delaney ZORGTECH INC. DEUX-MONTAGNES Jean-Philip Hétu BOIS-DES-FILION Dust-free sandblasting! SSP offers a specialized Protection against sandblasting service as well cyber-nightmares! as a painting service after the Consultants Informatique sanding operation. SSP does Zorgtech Inc. helps SMBs avoid the work at your residence. cyber nightmares by providing their employees with basic training in cybersecurity. 18 Entrepreneurs