National SME Day on 27 June
On National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Day, June 27, we celebrate not only the undeniable drivers of our economy, but also the dreams, commitment and innovation that motivate them. Our SMEs reflect the strong will of our entrepreneurs, the resources they mobilize to realize their ambitions, and the boldness they demonstrate every day to overcome obstacles.
Entrepreneurial microcredit as a driver for change
Every business starts with an idea, a dream. But behind every idea is the unshakeable will of the individual determined to turn it into reality. Increasingly popular in Quebec, entrepreneurial microcredit is aimed particularly at those who, despite unfailing determination, cannot find financial support through traditional channels. Investments deemed risky, limited credit history, lack of collateral or amounts requested considered too small: these are just some of the reasons that can constrain and limit the will of Quebec entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurial microcredit acts as a catalyst, transforming these challenges into opportunities, offering both financing and support to those who want to make their dreams come true.
The courage to become an entrepreneur
You know it, and you’ve probably seen it all around you, but setting up a business takes courage. Facing uncertainties, taking risks, tackling and overcoming obstacles, innovating: these are the hallmarks of Quebec entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurial microcredit is not just financial support, it is also, and above all, a strong symbol of confidence in this entrepreneurial daring.
Since its creation, the MicroEntreprendre network has helped nearly 35,000 Quebecers to make their entrepreneurial dreams come true. More than 40 million loans have been granted over the last 24 years. This is obviously invaluable support for those who dare!
Making a difference, one fund at a time
Over the last few years, entrepreneurial microcredit has proved to be a concrete way of expressing our confidence in the creativity and perseverance of each individual. After all, the granting of a loan, however small, has the power to change people’s destinies.
Take the example of a woman with a passion for gastronomy in Trois-Rivières, who, with the help of microcredit, succeeded in opening her first restaurant, which has now become a must for lovers of Haitian cuisine. Or the example of a Montreal athlete with a passion for classical dance who, thanks to microcredit, bounced back from her dismissal during the pandemic to offer personalized lessons to Quebec’s top athletes.
Their success is measured not only in terms of profits, but also in terms of the positive impact they have had on their communities, and the inspiration they provide to other aspiring entrepreneurs. These stories show that entrepreneurial microcredit doesn’t just finance projects, it changes lives and inspires vocations.
Our promise
Following this day of celebration of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, we proudly affirm the importance of entrepreneurial microcredit and its crucial role in our society. We, the members of the MicroEntreprendre network, will continue to support our entrepreneurs, to facilitate their access to the necessary resources and to promote the will, the means and the audacity that make up the strength of our economic fabric.
To the entrepreneurs of today and tomorrow, we offer our sincerest encouragement. Let this day be a reminder that every small business, every new project, is another building block in our collective prosperity.
A text signed by
- Ahmed Benbouzid, Director general of réseau MicroEntreprendre
- Martin Beaulieu, Director of MicroEntreprendre Abitibi-Témiscamingue
- Mona Beaulieu, Director of MicroEntreprendre Basses-Laurentides
- Kim Coté, Director of MicroEntreprendre Centre-du-Québec
- Marie-Josée Dufour-Garon, Director of MicroEntreprendre Chaudière-Appalaches
- Mélanie Guérard, Director of MicroEntreprendre Cœur et Hautes-Laurentides
- Jacqueline Girard, Director of MicroEntreprendre Côte-Nord
- Pierre Dufour, Director of MicroEntreprendre Lanaudière
- Lucie Benoit, Director of MicroEntreprendre Laval
- Ignacio Zarate, Director of MicroEntreprendre Outaouais
- Wilson Angarita, Director of MicroEntreprendre Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean
- Yan Tremblay, Director of Accès Microcrédit Gaspésie-Île-de-la-Madeleine
- Eric Gosselin, Director of Fonds d’Emprunt Montérégie
- Jean-Pierre Bédard, Director of Fonds d’Emprunt Québec
- Isabelle Tardif, Director of Fonds Émergence Estrie
- Guylaine Perron, Director of Fonds Mauricie
- Martine Lévesque, Director of Microcrédit Charlevoix
- Gaétan Ouellet, Director of Microcrédit KRTB
- Indu Krishnamurthy, Director of Microcrédit Montréal
- Francis Chouinard, Director of Réseau Accès Crédit
Homemade translation of a text originally published in French.
The original version of this text, ‘Le microcrédit entrepreneurial québécois: un soutien précieux’, was published in several media, including Les Affaires : https://www.lesaffaires.com/dossiers/commerce-de-detail-comment-se-demarquer-2/le-microcredit-entrepreneurial-quebecois-un-soutien-precieux/
About Accès Microcrédit Gaspésie-Îles-de-la Madeleine
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