Shawinigan, June 17, 2026 — Following their Annual General Metting, the SADC Shawinigan and the Fonds de Développement Économique LaPrade St-Maurice are presenting the results of a 2025–2026 year marked by sustained business investment, hands‑on support and structuring initiatives in local economic development, with increasing attention devoted to the next generation and business succession.

Financing : investing in boldness and in the next generation

Over the past year :

• $1 740 315 was invested through the SADC and the Fonds LaPrade, generating additional investments of $10 918 539
• 39 new projects were approved and 37 projects had been disbursed as of March 31
• These interventions helped create and maintain 315 jobs

The organizations also note that 45.9 % of projects financed this year were tied to business acquisition and/or succession, confirming the strategic importance of business succession for the region’s economic vitality.

Support : by your side, every day

Support for businesses also took the form of concrete services, notably through our digital transformation support program, AccèsTI‑PME | Organisme :

• 22 new clients supported
• 25 ongoing clients

Local economic development : growing our region, together

Key initiatives this year include :

• Flexiprêt for women (project completed March 31, 2026) : 178 flexipreneurs supported; $1.6M invested by the 11 participating SADC and CAE, with benefits for 94 businesses
• Ta Place à Shawi : 15 conferences in 4 schools, reaching 349 students
• Réseau RH Shawi : 4 activities totaling 177 participants
• AccèsTI Citoyen 2.0 : 28 group training sessions (173 attendances) and 462 one‑on‑one support sessions (570 hours)
• PING! Program : 130 registrations, 40 group training sessions and 47 support sessions
• Tête Première (psychological support program for entrepreneurs) : for the project as a whole | 80 individual follow‑ups, 13 group cohorts, 800 participants and 170 front-line professionals supporting entrepreneurs trained.

Quotes

“While I am leaving with a sense of accomplishment, I am also leaving with great confidence. On the eve of the coming years, I am convinced that the SADC Shawinigan will continue to serve as a development catalyst, with boldness, relevance and impact.” — Nathalie Boisvert, president of  the SADC Shawinigan, who is leaving the organization after nine years as a volunteer, including three years as president.

“The past year has clearly demonstrated what sets the Fonds de développement économique LaPrade apart: beyond financing, our ability to support concrete projects that meet the real needs of entrepreneurs and organizations in the region. While our financial interventions remain in place, it is above all through support, mobilization and our structuring initiatives that we created value on the ground.” — André Héon, president of the Fonds de développement économique LaPrade St-Maurice.

About the SADC Shawinigan

The SADC’s mission is to implement, manage and support projects to foster the community’s economic and social development.

About the Fonds de développement économique LaPrade St-Maurice

The Fonds de développement économique LaPrade St-Maurice’s mission is to maintain and create sustainable jobs by providing financial support to businesses in their business projects; it can also support projects for the community’s economic development.

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Information:
Sylvie Lavergne, Director of Development and Communications
SADC Shawinigan / Fonds LaPrade St-Maurice
819 537‑5107 ext. 215 | [email protected]