CED — Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (REGI)

Quebec’s housing shortage has pushed builders and manufacturers to look for faster, more efficient ways to deliver multi-unit residential projects. The CED — Regional Homebuilding Innovation Initiative (REGI) was created to help address that challenge by supporting innovation in how housing components and systems are designed, manufactured, and brought to market. Delivered by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the initiative focuses on solutions that can meaningfully speed up construction timelines while increasing production capacity in the multi-unit housing sector.

This program is especially relevant for manufacturing-focused small and medium-sized businesses, as well as nonprofits, that are working on modular construction, prefabricated components, or new materials and processes tied to multi-unit residential buildings. Rather than supporting on-site construction, REGI targets off-site and factory-based innovation, such as automation, digital optimization, or equipment investments that help manufacturers scale. Funding is provided on a project basis and is designed to offset a meaningful portion of eligible costs, with repayment terms that are more flexible for businesses and largely non-repayable support available for qualifying nonprofit organizations.

While REGI plays a role in Canada’s broader housing strategy, the Quebec stream is targeted and competitive, and the program is not accepting applications at the moment. For businesses planning future innovation projects in residential construction, understanding how REGI works can still be valuable when preparing for similar funding opportunities or program reopenings.