Renovation subsidy for retail businesses on Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest

Last updated September 13, 2021

The PRAM – Sainte-Catherine program provides financial assistance to merchants who have been affected by major work operations on this street and who wish to renovate the interior or exterior of their businesses.

Current

Description

PRAM – Sainte-Catherine was designed to serve as a companion to Phase 1 of the Sainte-Catherine Ouest project. Its objective is to provide financial assistance to merchants if their business is affected by this major redevelopment project involving the replacement of century-old underground infrastructures, and to develop mitigation and communications measures during the completion of the work.

Subsidies for the renovation of commercial buildings are made available to merchants and building owners in order to stimulate investment in private property and highlight the city’s built heritage, notably the facades of buildings. Financial assistance covers the design of businesses, both inside and outside, as well as the execution of the work, including the renovation of facades and the modernization and layout of stores.

The program’s objective is to make Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest and its surroundings more attractive, earn customer loyalty and draw new customers.

A sum of $2.8 million will be invested in the subsidy program for business people and commercial real-estate owners for purposes of renovating facades and modernizing the layout of their stores. The program covers two areas of activity: 

  • Financial assistance covering 40 per cent of the cost of eligible work, up to $50,000, $150,000 or $300,000 per building, based on its size.
  • An additional subsidy covering 50 per cent of professional design fees, up to $4,000, $10,000 or $20,000 per renovation project, based on the size of the building.

Objectives

  • Stimulate and revitalize Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest.
  • Provide financial assistance for the renovation of commercial buildings.
  • Offer consumers an updated commercial environment and a more attractive built environment.

Program implementation area

The subsidy program applies solely to buildings on Rue Sainte-Catherine Ouest between Rue de Bleury and Rue Mansfield.

Eligibility

In order to benefit from the subsidy, applicants must submit an application to the program within the prescribed time period and must be deemed eligible before the work is started.

Application form

To submit an application for the subsidy program, applicants must send the following documents to [email protected].

  • Completed application form.
  • Proof of property ownership or rental, according to your status as an owner or a tenant.
  • Detailed estimate of costs for the work.
  • The property owner’s approval to perform the work, if the applicant is a tenant.
  • A document establishing the power of attorney of any person acting behalf of the applicant (if there is a representative).
  • Photos of the building facade and the commercial space where the work will be carried out. The photos must be taken at the time of applying for the subsidy and not before.

Application to receive a subsidy payment

In order to receive this subsidy, applicants must send all the following documents to [email protected]

  • Work completion notice form
  • Copies of invoices for the work
  • Proof of payment of the invoices
  • A copy of the work permits and proof of payment thereof
  • Photos of the building facade and the renovated spaces.