Ontario Together Trade Fund
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
Program Description
Supports Ontario SMEs affected by U.S. tariffs with interest-free forgivable loans covering up to 75% of eligible costs (max $5 million) to reshore supply chains, adopt new technologies, or enter alternative markets. Up to 30% of the loan (max $1.5 million) may be forgiven if investment and job creation targets are met; the remainder is repaid over four years. Eligible applicants must be for-profit Ontario businesses with 3+ years of operations and 5+ full-time employees.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must be a for-profit business incorporated and operating in Ontario
- Minimum 3 years of operating history
- Minimum 5 full-time equivalent employees
- Must demonstrate measurable impact from U.S. tariffs on your business
- Project must involve reshoring supply chains, technology adoption, or entering alternative markets
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $5 million
- Type
- Forgivable Loan
- Level
- Provincial
- Co-Funding
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Continuous intake (opened April 2025)
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
Everything you need to win Ontario Together Trade Fund — $19
Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.
- 8 rejection pitfalls reviewers flag — so you catch them first
- 8-document checklist with what each reviewer is actually checking
- 8-step application timeline with prep hours per step
- Insider tip from program officers on what separates winners
- 5-program stacking strategy to combine with compatible funding
- Success profile + evaluation criteria — exactly what reviewers score on
Applying for Ontario Together Trade Fund? Most founders end up needing more than one template — grab the Founder Pack ($59 · saves $27 vs separate) →
How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipComplete the mandatory online self-screener first — it is a hard prerequisite before any advisor conversation or TPON registration can proceed. Build your tariff impact narrative around documented revenue loss (30%+ is the stated threshold) or a specific reshoring project tied to a named customer switching from a U.S. supplier. Applications demonstrating clear job creation numbers and Ontario supply chain benefits score highest.
Rejection Pitfalls 8
- Insufficient evidence of U.S. tariff impact — revenue exposure not documented or below 30%
- Project investment below $200,000 minimum threshold
- Fewer than 5 full-time equivalent employees
Success Profile
Manufacturing or technology business with 5+ employees, 3+ years of operating history, and documented 30%+ revenue exposure to U.S. tariff impacts. Projects focused on reshoring production from the U.S. to Ontario or diversifying into non-U.S. markets with capital investment.
Evaluation Criteria
Ontario economic benefit (job creation and retention, Ontario supply chain value, export diversification); financial viability and repayment capacity; severity and documentation of U.S. tariff impact (30%+ revenue exposure is the meaningful threshold); strategic merit of the investment project
Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 8
Eligible Expenses 9
- Equipment and machinery (new or substantially upgraded)
- Facility construction, renovation, and leasehold improvements
- One-time labour directly attributable to the project
- Materials used in project implementation
- Specialized expertise and consulting fees
- Training and talent development tied to new operations or technologies
- Permits and fees required for project implementation
- New market access costs (trade shows, market entry studies, product localization)
- Supply chain resilience investments
Ineligible Expenses 8
- Ongoing operations, maintenance, and capital replacement
- Refinancing of existing debt or operations
- Acquisitions and buyouts
- Restructuring or relocation to another jurisdiction
- Electricity generation or distribution projects
- Waste management and primary recycling operations
- Hospitality investments (hotels, restaurants, event venues)
- R&D not directly linked to a tariff-response project
Intake Periods
Continuous intake opened April 23, 2025. Rolling assessments. No published end date — program closes when $50M total budget is exhausted. Apply as early as possible.
Deadline Notes
Continuous intake opened April 23, 2025. Rolling assessments on an ongoing basis. No published end date. Program will close when $50M total budget is exhausted.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- Not-for-profits, charities, and associations
- Sole proprietors
- Retail businesses
- Consulting firms
- Construction service providers
- Personal service providers
- Hospitality businesses (hotels, restaurants)
- Businesses with fewer than 5 FTE employees
- Businesses with less than 3 years of operations
Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Medium RiskHow Ontario Together Trade Fund Compares
Side-by-side with similar programs
| Program | Amount | Difficulty | Payment | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ontario Together Trade Fund | Up to $5 million | Hard | Milestone-Based | Continuous intake... |
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| Strategic Response Fund (formerly Str... | Up to $50 million | Hard | Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) | Ongoing — continuous... |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Ontario Together Trade Fund