Updated May 2026 · Verified against PME MTL Centre-Est and PME MTL Centre-Ville (City of Montreal / Bureau du design) guidelines
✓ First-Timer Friendly Milestone-Based
Grant Municipal Active

PME MTL — Commerce X Design

PME MTL Centre-Est and PME MTL Centre-Ville (City of Montreal / Bureau du design)
Maximum Funding
$10,000 non-repayable (up to 20% of...
Ongoing until funds exhausted
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Easy
Payment
Milestone-Based
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
20%
PME MTL — Commerce X Design provides up to $10,000 non-repayable (up to 20% of project cost; minimum $50,000 project). Non-repayable $10,000 grant for small proximity retailers in Montreal's Centre-Est and Centre-Ville territories to integrate professional design services — graphic, display, commercial, or architectural — into their business. The program covers up to 20% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. (As of May 2026, verified against PME MTL Centre-Est and PME MTL Centre-Ville (City of Montreal / Bureau du design) program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Non-repayable $10,000 grant for small proximity retailers in Montreal's Centre-Est and Centre-Ville territories to integrate professional design services — graphic, display, commercial, or architectural — into their business. Minimum project cost of $50,000; grant covers up to 20% of total costs.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Small proximity retailer (street-level storefront) located in PME MTL Centre-Est or Centre-Ville territory only
  • Business must have street-facing frontage — non-storefront businesses are ineligible
  • Applicant must provide at least 20% of total project costs from own resources
  • Minimum total project cost of $50,000 (grant covers up to 20%, maximum $10,000)
  • Must obtain minimum two quotes per design service category
  • At least 75% of the $10,000 grant must be allocated to professional design fees (not renovation costs)
  • Business plan or project summary including a design component and 3-year budget required
  • Startups and established businesses are both eligible
Provinces
Quebec
Industries
Retail Food And Beverage Arts And Culture Services
Business Stage
Startup Growth Mature

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Easy
Competition
Moderate
Est. Hours
8h
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
$10,000 non-repayable (up to 20% of project cost; minimum $50,000 project)
Type
Grant
Level
Municipal
Co-Funding
Up to 20% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing until funds exhausted

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
Moderate
Effort
~8 hours
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
Premium See how this program compares on approval odds, difficulty, and competition — so you know if it’s worth your time.
Know your real odds before investing 40+ hours
Approval likelihood, realistic amounts, competition level, and what winners look like
Consultants charge $500–$2,000 per program. This Playbook is $19.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back
What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win PME MTL — Commerce X Design — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

Consultants charge $2,000–$5,000 per program. This Playbook is $19. Yours forever.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back →

Applying for PME MTL — Commerce X Design? Our Business Plan Template ($29) is the Canadian-format business plan reviewers and lenders are used to seeing. Or get all 4 templates in the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27) →

How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

Premium
Insider Tip

At least 75% of the $10,000 must go to professional design fees — not renovation labour or materials. This means your designer selection is the core of the application. Get quotes from at least two designers per service type before submitting your interest form. The program funds PME MTL experts to support you through the process, so engage them early for guidance on scope and designer vetting. Acting quickly after intake reopens is key — budget exhausts without warning.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

  • Business not located in PME MTL Centre-Est or Centre-Ville territory
  • No street-level storefront frontage
  • Total project cost below $50,000
+4 more pitfalls
Premium See the most common reasons applications get rejected — before you submit yours.

Success Profile

An established or early-stage Montreal retailer with a street-facing storefront in Centre-Est or Centre-Ville PME MTL territory, a minimum $50,000 renovation or redesign project planned, and a specific professional design service in scope — brand refresh, store layout redesign, window display, or architectural intervention.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Eligibility-based rather than scored — applications are approved in order of receipt until budget is exhausted. Key requirements are: street-level location in eligible PME MTL territory, minimum $50,000 project, minimum 75% of grant toward professional fees, and minimum two quotes per design service. PME MTL experts review the interest form and business plan to confirm fit.

Premium See exactly what reviewers score on — so you know where to focus.
Don’t waste 8 hours on a preventable rejection
7 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
Paid grant writers quote $2,000–$5,000 per program. Start with the $19 Playbook first.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

Premium 6 steps 5 docs

Application Steps

1 Submit interest form Complete the interest form at commerce-design.paperform.co. Describe your project concept, design service types planned, and business location.
2 Work with PME MTL expert A PME MTL advisor reviews your form and contacts you to discuss eligibility, project scope, and next steps. They help refine the project plan.
3 Obtain minimum two quotes per design service Solicit at least two competitive quotes from qualified professionals for each type of design service in scope (graphic, display, commercial, architectural).
4 Submit full application and business plan Submit the complete application package including project budget (showing 20%+ own contribution), design quotes, business plan with 3-year budget, and proof of eligibility.
5 Receive approval and begin project Upon approval, execute the project with the selected design professionals. Document all invoices and progress milestones.
6 Complete 60% of project and claim grant Once at least 60% of the project is complete, submit supporting documentation (invoices, progress photos) to PME MTL to trigger the $10,000 grant disbursement.

Required Documents 5

✓ Completed interest form (via commerce-design.paperform.co)
✓ Business plan or project summary with design component and 3-year budget
✓ Minimum two quotes per design service category (graphic, display, commercial, architectural)
✓ Proof of business registration and street-level storefront location in eligible territory
✓ Project budget identifying applicant's own 20%+ contribution

Eligible Expenses 5

  • Graphic design fees (branding, signage, packaging design)
  • Display and window designer fees (visual merchandising, display fixtures design)
  • Commercial designer fees (interior retail layout, fixture planning)
  • Architect fees for storefront or interior commercial redesign
  • Certain renovation costs directly tied to design professional engagement (capped at 25% of grant)

Ineligible Expenses 5

  • General renovation labour and materials not tied to design professional scope
  • Equipment purchases unrelated to design project
  • Marketing and advertising costs
  • Expenses incurred before project approval
  • Non-professional design costs (DIY improvements)

Intake Periods

Continuous intake on a rolling basis until the annual budget is exhausted. No fixed intake windows — apply as soon as your project is ready. Monitor pmemtl.com for current program availability.

Deadline Notes

Continuous intake on a first-come, first-served basis until the program budget is exhausted. No annual deadline — apply as soon as your project is ready. Check pmemtl.com for current availability.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • Businesses not located in PME MTL Centre-Est or Centre-Ville territories
  • Non-storefront businesses (no street-level frontage)
  • For-profit businesses outside the retail and proximity commerce sector
  • Non-profit organizations
Premium Get the step-by-step application guide — documents, timeline, and what to prepare.

Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

Premium 3 partners

Compatible Programs

CDEC or local BIA storefront improvement grants Quebec PDIT (Programme de diversification des industries touristiques) Federal CHPI or CDAP programs
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk

Grant disbursement is contingent on project completion milestones. If the project is not completed as submitted, the disbursement may be withheld or partially clawed back. Standard PME MTL program conditions apply.

Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.
See your total funding potential across 3 programs
Stacking amounts, clawback details, government stacking limits, and tax implications
One avoided clawback typically outweighs the $19 Playbook cost by 50–100×.
Unlock this Playbook — $19 One-time · Yours forever · Instant access
or subscribe for $29/mo · 30-day money-back

How PME MTL — Commerce X Design Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
PME MTL — Commerce X Design $10,000 non-repayable Easy Milestone-Based Ongoing until funds...
Storefront Improvement Grant Up to $25,000 Moderate Reimbursement Three intake windows:...
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Next deadline: May 29,...
Export Development Canada (EDC) Finan... Varies Easy Equity Ongoing
SSHRC Partnerships Up to $2.5M Hard Advance Payment Annual two-stage cycle....

Related Programs

Other programs you might be eligible for

Free
Grant

Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program

Up to $12,500 (50% of costs) · Municipal
 Grant

Storefront Refresh Grant

Up to $1,000 (50% of costs) · Municipal
 Program

Sport Canada Programs

Varies · Federal

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about PME MTL — Commerce X Design

Free
Does my business need to be incorporated to apply for Commerce X Design?
Yes. The program targets registered businesses with a street-level storefront in the PME MTL Centre-Est or Centre-Ville territory. Informal or unregistered businesses are not eligible.
Can the $10,000 grant cover renovation labour and materials?
Only partially. At least 75% of the grant ($7,500) must go to professional design fees (graphic, display, commercial, or architectural designers). The remaining 25% can cover certain renovation costs directly tied to the design work.
What is the minimum project size to qualify for Commerce X Design?
Your total project cost must be at least $50,000. The grant covers up to 20% of eligible costs, capped at $10,000, so the minimum project cost that maximizes the grant is $50,000.
Is Commerce X Design available to businesses outside the Centre-Est and Centre-Ville PME MTL territories?
No. The program is strictly limited to street-level businesses located within the PME MTL Centre-Est or Centre-Ville territories. Businesses in other Montreal boroughs or elsewhere in Quebec are not eligible.
When is the grant actually paid out?
The $10,000 is disbursed after you have completed at least 60% of the project and submitted supporting documentation (invoices, progress photos). You must finance the first 60% of project costs before receiving the grant.

Browse More Funding

Quebec Grants Explore All Programs Take the Quiz