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Program ended · March 2024 Archive reference

Digital Main Street.

Municipal transformation grants for small retailers

No longer available

Digital Main Street (DMS) supported main-street businesses with up to $2,500 toward digital transformation. The program was not renewed by the Province of Ontario after March 31, 2024. This page exists to route you to the current best alternative.

Talk to us Check eligibility

Who qualifies

Eligibility checklist.

Historical eligibility — for reference only. The program is closed.

Ontario-based retailer Consumer-facing storefront business.
1 – 10 employees Small, main-street scale operation.
Minimum revenue threshold Set annually by participating municipalities.
Enrolled via municipality Applications flowed through local DMS coordinators.
Not eligible

DMS is no longer accepting applications. Check Retail Modernization for the closest active equivalent, or DMAP if you are a B2B / non-retail business.

Eligible services

What's covered.

The kinds of work DMS historically supported — we still ship them, outside the grant envelope.

Storefront website Simple, fast site with hours, location, and a contact path.
Starter e-commerce Selling online for the first time — catalog, checkout, fulfillment.
Local digital marketing Google Business Profile, local SEO, and paid local ads.
POS & operations tooling Affordable POS, inventory, and scheduling systems.

Process

How to apply.

If DMS is your reason for visiting, here is the path forward.

  1. 1

    Confirm your business profile

    Retail with a storefront? Point at Retail Modernization (paused, but we track reopening). B2B or non-retail? Point at DMAP — still open.

  2. 2

    Scope a small, claim-shaped plan

    We keep the project right-sized: website + one or two sharp digital channels, not a platform rebuild.

  3. 3

    Ship now

    Most main-street projects fit a 2–4 week build window. Start capturing digital revenue immediately.

  4. 4

    Apply when a new window opens

    When Retail Modernization or a successor program reopens, we package the invoices and help you file.

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Is Digital Main Street coming back?

There has been no announcement of a renewed DMS envelope. The province and municipalities have redirected focus to Retail Modernization and broader digital-adoption programs.

What is the closest equivalent today?

For retail storefronts: Retail Modernization (50% matching). For B2B / non-retail: DMAP (up to $15,000).

I already started a DMS application — what now?

In-flight applications are not being processed. Reach out — we will help you redirect the work to a currently-open program and avoid losing momentum.

Can I still build the website and e-commerce?

Absolutely. The funding environment changed — your customers did not. Most of our small-business retail work ships in 2–4 weeks, with or without grant matching.

Closed · See alternatives

Missed DMS? Here is the next best move.

Tell us where your business is today and we will map you to the right current program.

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