Fonds régions et ruralité (FRR)

Bill 47 – An Act to ensure the implementation of certain measures of the 2020-2024 partnership between the Government of Québec and municipalities was assented to in the National Assembly on December 11, 2019, creating the Fonds régions et ruralité (FRR).

The Regions and Rural Areas Fund is one of the government’s main tools for supporting the vitality of regions. It now consists of five components:

  • Volet 1 – Regional Impact
  • Volet 2 – Territorial Development
  • Volet 3 – Vitalisation
  • Volet 4 – Municipal Cooperation and Governance
  • Volet 5 – Local shops

 

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Regional Impact

This component aims to support projects whose benefits extend beyond the territory of a regional county municipality (MRC). It supports the Strategy to Ensure the Occupation and Vitality of Territories, which stems from the Act to ensure the occupation and vitality of territories (RLRQ, chapter O-1.3).

It mainly supports the implementation of initiatives related to regional priorities. This fund offers the possibility of financially supporting projects that respond to a specific situation affecting the vitality of a region.

This component consists of two sub-components:

  • Regional Priorities
    • Grant applications are submitted in response to regional calls for projects launched by the government based on one or more themes determined regionally by the Conférence des préfètes de l’Outaouais (CPO).
    • Regional objectives and project call dates are published by the Government of Quebec and shared by the MRC.
  • Territorial Innovations
    • This is a new approach to supporting innovation, replacing Component 3 – “Signature Innovation” which was in effect under the 2020-2024 Regional and Rurality Finds (FRR).

The Conférence administrative régionale de l’Outaouais is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the action plan resulting from the Government Strategy to Ensure the Occupancy and Vitality of Territories 2025–2029. The 2025-2029 regional priorities were chosen to address the region’s challenges (PLAN d’action régional 2025-2029 – Stratégie gouvernementale pour assurer l’occupation et la vitalité des territoires – Outaouais).

Priority 1 Support the development of housing supply and the diversification of rental options to meet the needs and realities of the region.

Priority 2 Increase the influence and cultural development of the Outaouais region by supporting its culture, arts, and heritage community.

Priority 3 Increase the availability of vocational, college, and university programs and promote access to higher education and skills development within the territories.

Priority 4 Ensure the vitality and local services of the territories to enable for sustainable communities that are dynamic and welcoming places to live.

Priority 5 Develop a sustainable food system to strengthen the food autonomy and security for our communities.

Priority 6 Diversify the region’s economic structure by focusing on promising, emerging, and innovative sectors of activity and by supporting entrepreneurship.

Priority 7 Promote adaptation to climate change and energy transition to ensuring sustainable development.

To contact the Outaouais’ Regional Office: dr.outaouais@mamh.gouv.qc.ca

To learn more about MAMH activities, follow them on social media:

Facebook: facebook.com/AffairesMunicipalesHabitation

X: x.com/MAMHqc

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Territorial Development

In September 2025, the MRC Pontiac signed an agreement under the Territorial Development component of the Regional and Rural Fund with the ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH). These funds support numerous programs within the MRC’s Economic Development Department, such as structural projects and business support.

The MRC Pontiac allocates the portion of the fund delegated to it by the MAMH to any local and regional development measures taken by the MRC Pontiac under the agreement. These measures must address the following areas of intervention:

  • Economic vitality.
  • Cultural vitality.
  • Social development.
  • Environmental protection.
  • Rural living.
  • Support for local municipalities.
  • Improvement of living environments.
  • Promoting heritage.
  • Land use planning and development.

Each year, the Council of Mayors adopts, by resolution, intervention framework for the MRC Pontiac territory.

Intervention Framework for Territorial Vitality

The Council of Mayors of the MRC Pontiac adopted, by Resolution C.M.2026‑03‑27, an Intervention Framework for Territorial Vitality 2025–2028, which establishes action priorities related to territorial development. This document defines the intended uses of the funds allocated by the MAMH, as well as the accountability and monitoring methods that must be applied over a period of three (3) years.

This Framework serves as a reference to guide decisions, ensure consistency in interventions, and guarantee compliance with the objectives set by the MRC. 

INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK 2025-2028

Call for projects

Call for projects calendar

2025-2026 

Opening March 25th 2026 at noon 

Closing April 30th 2026 at noon

2026-2027 Coming soon

2027-2028 Coming soon

Annual Reports

Past investments can be viewed in the reports presented annually to the council of mayors and accepted by resolution.

Rapports annuels

Annual Reports

 

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Business Support Policy (PSE)

This policy aims to respond to two major challenges for the development and sustainability of businesses:

  • Boost entrepreneurship by encouraging the creation, development, restructuring, and establishment of businesses in the Pontiac region.
  • Increase their chances of success and stabilize their long-term retention throughout the MRC Pontiac region.

 

We work to support local entrepreneurship, contribute to the creation and maintenance of jobs within our territory, and improve the quality of life of our citizens.

Structural Projects Support Policy (PSPS)

The main objective of the Support for Structuring Projects Policy is to improve the local living environments, as well as to create and maintain jobs within the Pontiac MRC. These two major elements are intended to improve the quality of life for the citizens of the Pontiac.

Festivals and Events Financing Policy (PGE)

Festivals and events considered under this policy are distinguished by the high visibility they bring to the Pontiac and the significant social and economic benefits they generate, as well as by their successful expansion of an existing event or festival.

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Signature innovation

The goal of the ”Signature innovation” projects component is to support the MRC in the development of major projects on a supra-local scale, based on an intervention niche identified by the MRC. Through this project we aim to gain momentum and increase the importance and value that this niche carries on the territory.

On August 17, 2022, an agreement on the MRC Pontiac’s ‘Signature innovation’ project (the Agreement), entitled ‘Trajectoire Pontiac’ was signed between the Ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) and the MRC Pontiac (MRC). This agreement will expire on August 17th, 2026. After careful consideration, the MRC has made the strategic decision to refocus its project so that it better reflects the signature it wishes to develop. An amendment to the agreement was signed in the summer of 2023 to modify the Signature Innovation project.

The MRC’s new “Signature Innovation” project emerged as a result of the strategic planning efforts undertaken for the 2020-2030 period. The “Espace agroalimentaire AgriSaveur” project will propel and stimulate the expansion and development of the MRC’s agricultural sector.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, YOU CAN CONTACT:

(819) 648-5689 extension 122
developpement@mrcpontiac.qc.ca

Utilization Reports and Documents

Past investments can be viewed in the reports presented annually to the council of mayors and accepted by resolution.

Rapport d’utilisation

Résolutions du Conseil des maires

Cadre de gestion

Utilization report

Resolutions from the Council of Mayors

Management framework

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Vitalization

The MRC Pontiac implemented the revitalization agreement signed with the ministère des Affaires municipales et de l’Habitation (MAMH) on November 15, 2021. This agreement stems from the Regions and Rurality Fund and encourages the mobilization of elected officials and municipal administrations to give new impetus to their territory.

In September 2025, the MRC Pontiac signed a new agreement to finance the revitalization of its territory, from the Regions and Rurality Fund with the MAMH. Investments that contribute to revitalization must fall within one of the following areas of intervention aimed at improving a community’s living environment:

  • Community engagement and mobilization,
  • Consolidation of local services,
  • Urban development and green spaces,
  • Collective living space;

Revitalization relies on mobilizing networks of local and regional stakeholders, recognising their contributions, and adopting a flexible, long-term approach to the overall development of the region. A prioritization for projects with direct impacts on the Q5 municipalities and their residents is considered. However, the impact of projects on the entire MRC region, as a whole, will play a key role.

INTERVENTION FRAMEWORK 2025-2028

Call for projects

Annual Reports and Documents

Past investments can be viewed in the reports presented annually to the council of mayors and accepted by resolution.

Documents

Rapports annuels

Documents

Annual Reports

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