Ontario Trade-Impacted Communities Program (TICP)

Insider Tip

Private-sector businesses cannot be lead applicants but can be influential partners in a joint application — consider approaching your local economic development office or sector association to sponsor a joint application for a project that directly serves your industry. The program explicitly prioritizes projects that demonstrate measurable trade-impact on Ontario workers and communities, so evidence of actual tariff-related layoffs, plant closures, or supply-chain disruptions strengthens an application significantly. Stream 1 is continuous-intake, so apply early rather than waiting for a formal call — funding is first-come, first-served within the $40M envelope. Register with Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) well in advance; TPON registration alone can take 1-2 weeks.

Rejection Pitfalls 6

• Lead applicant is a private-sector business, non-profit without economic development mandate, charity, or labour union (must be lead by eligible organization type)
• Less than 2 years of organizational operational experience
• Project costs are ineligible (capital equipment, operating expenses, lobbying, U.S.-based activities)

Success Profile

Municipal governments and regional economic development organizations in Ontario communities with significant U.S. trade exposure — automotive manufacturing towns, agricultural regions affected by tariffs, and communities with heavy cross-border supply-chain dependence. Projects that bring together multiple local employers, local government, and sector associations in a coordinated response to trade disruption receive highest scores. Examples: a regional EDC organizing a supplier diversification forum for 50+ local manufacturers, or a sector association running an export market development program for Ontario agri-food producers entering European markets.

Evaluation Criteria

Applications evaluated on: (1) demonstrated trade-impact severity on the community or sector, (2) project feasibility and organizational capacity (2+ years' experience, audited financials), (3) measurability of project outcomes (jobs supported, businesses assisted, new market relationships formed), (4) alignment with program streams (Stream 1: community resiliency activities; Stream 2: large-scale transformation), and (5) value for money relative to funding requested.

Application Steps

Required Documents 9

Eligible Expenses 8

• One-time project costs directly related to the management and delivery of the project
• Staff salaries directly attributed to the project
• Consultant and professional service fees
• Marketing and communications costs (project-specific)
• Modest Ontario-based travel costs
• Training and skills development program costs
• Event delivery costs (forums, job fairs, supplier matchmaking events)
• Audit and reporting costs

Ineligible Expenses 7

• Capital equipment purchases
• Ongoing operating expenses of the organization
• U.S.-based costs or activities to support U.S. businesses
• Application preparation fees
• Infrastructure projects (roads, buildings, utilities)
• Lobbying or government relations activities
• Expenses not directly related to the approved project scope

Intake Periods

Stream 1: Continuous intake — applications accepted year-round while the $40M program envelope has remaining funding. Stream 2: First round closed September 11, 2025; monitor ontario.ca for announcements of a second round.

Deadline Notes

Stream 1 uses continuous intake — applications accepted year-round while the $40M program budget has remaining funding. Stream 2 closed September 11, 2025 for its first round; a second round may open — monitor ontario.ca/trade-impacted-communities-program for announcements. Contact [email protected] to confirm current intake status before beginning an application.

Ineligible Organizations

• Private-sector for-profit businesses (eligible as partners, not lead applicants)
• Non-profit organizations without an economic development mandate
• Chambers of commerce, boards of trade, and business improvement associations (eligible as partners only)
• Labour unions
• Registered charities without economic development mandate
• Business accelerators and incubators (ineligible for Stream 1; eligible for Stream 2 only)

Compatible Programs

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk

Transfer Payment Agreement includes repayment provisions if project targets are not met, if the project is not completed within the approved timeframe, or if funded activities are found to have violated program terms. Unspent project funds must be returned. Ontario has audit rights throughout the project period.