Subsidies to Boost Street-Level Commerce and Housing Supply
The Catalan government, known as the Generalitat, has launched a new grant programme to help self-employed individuals and businesses relocate from upper floors or mezzanine-level commercial units to street-level shops. The measure, announced on 9 October 2026 by the Department of Business, aims to free up space for residential use and increase the availability of housing across municipalities. Administered through the Consortium for Commerce, Craft and Fashion of Catalonia (Consorci de Comerç, Artesania i Moda de Catalunya), the scheme will allocate €600,000 in total subsidies. These grants will cover 75% of eligible costs related to acquiring, renting, administrative concession, renovation, technical installations, and furnishing of new street-level premises.
Financial Support and Application Deadline
Each business or sole trader can receive up to €30,000 per establishment under the programme. To qualify, applications must be submitted by 30 October 2026, and the physical move must be completed by 31 December 2026. The initiative forms part of a broader support programme for the opening, renovation, and improvement of retail establishments, designed to strengthen the competitiveness of local commerce, promote modernisation, and revitalise commercial streets.
This support aims to reinforce proximity commerce and dynamise main commercial arteries in towns and cities.
The Generalitat has indicated plans to introduce further actions to encourage shop openings along key commercial corridors, including the Eix commercial axis. Municipal authorities, such as La Paeria in Lleida, are also advancing complementary local efforts.
How to Apply
Eligible applicants can apply via the official Generalitat business procedures portal. The call for applications is listed under the 'Subvencions per a inversions empresarials d'alt impacte 2026' (Grants for High-Impact Business Investments 2026) scheme on tramits.gencat.cat.
Primary sources: ccam.gencat.cat, tramits.gencat.cat, sac.gencat.cat, ACCIÓ - Agència per la Competitivitat de l'Empresa, accio.gencat.cat. Reported by segre.com, Foto: ACN, radiobalaguer.cat, viaempresa.cat.
