Updated September 2026 · Verified against Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (via 7 Regional Development Agencies) guidelines
✨ New Program ✓ First-Timer Friendly Reimbursement Est. 2025
Grant Federal Active

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (via 7 Regional Development Agencies)
Maximum Funding
Up to $3,000,000
Ongoing. Intake varies by Regional Development Agency; PrairiesCan accepts ap...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
New Program
First-Timers
Friendly ✓
Co-Funding
50%
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) provides Up to $3,000,000 non-repayable per business ($2,000,000 liquidity assistance plus $1,000,000 for a pivot project, each up to 50% of eligible costs); pivot projects over $1,000,000 are interest-free repayable (up to 75% of costs); $20,000,000 total cap across all RTRI funding. A national program delivered through all 7 Regional Development Agencies (ACOA, CED, CanNor, FedNor, FedDev Ontario, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan) helping SMEs affected by U.S. and China tariffs. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Read our 2026 guide to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative · See what is open now

Compared with the 242 other application forms we have read

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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

131 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 139 awards since 2025. Typical award: $750K. Half of all awards fall between $631.3K and $1M. The advertised maximum is $3M — most awards land closer to $750K. 97% of recipients are for-profit businesses. Top sectors among classified recipients: Other fabricated metal products, Other motor vehicle parts, Iron and steel pipe and tube. Top provinces: Ontario 96% · Yukon 1% · Nunavut 1%. Covers: Regional Tariff Response Initiative contributions from FedDev Ontario, FedNor and CanNor (PrairiesCan and PacifiCan have not yet published awards for this 2025 program). Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Regional Tariff Response Initiative award is $750K — the median of 139 awards since 2025, even though the program advertises up to $3M. In 2025, 131 businesses were funded; 97% were for-profit companies.

131funded in 2025
$750Ktypical award
139awards since 2025
97%for-profit

Most awards fall between $631.3K and $1M, with a typical (median) award of $750K. The program funds up to $3M for the largest projects — about 4 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $750K $631.3K $1M
up to $3M

Most awards land between $631.3K and $1M, with a typical award of $750K — and this program funds up to $3M for the largest projects.

Top sectors Other fabricated metal productsOther motor vehicle partsIron and steel pipe and tube(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 96%YT 1%NU 1%

Named recipients

Recent recipients of the Regional Tariff Response Initiative include MobilEx Terminal Ltd (Thunder Bay, ON, 2026), Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers Association (Gjoa Haven, NU, 2026) and ZF Lifetec (Midland, ON, 2026).

  1. 2026MobilEx Terminal LtdThunder Bay, ON · Heavy and civil engineering
  2. 2026Gjoa Haven Hunters and Trappers AssociationGjoa Haven, NU
  3. 2026ZF LifetecMidland, ON · Transportation equipment mfg
  4. 2026ZipGrow Inc.Cornwall, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  5. 2026Continental Conveyor (Ontario) Ltd.Napanee, ON · Other fabricated metal products
  6. 2026Armada Toolworks Ltd.Lindsay, ON · Other motor vehicle parts
  7. 2026Mincon CanadaNorth Bay, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  8. 2026Pilot Diamond Ltd.North Bay, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  9. 2025A10 FabricationMcKerrow, ON · Steel product manufacturing
  10. 2025Nunavut Fisheries AssociationIqaluit, NU
Show 30 more recipients
  1. 2025Undah Gogha CorporationFort Providence, NT
  2. 2025Cobalt Construction Inc.Whitehorse, YT
  3. 2025Northern Vision Development CorpWhitehorse, YT
  4. 2025CMI Heavy IndustriesStevensville, ON · Other fabricated metal products
  5. 2025Lecours Lumber Co. LimitedHearst, ON · Manufacturing
  6. 2025Kawartha Metals Corp.Peterborough, ON · Other fabricated metal products
  7. 2025Walters Inc.Princeton, ON · Fabricated metal products
  8. 2025Integran Technologies Inc.Mississauga, ON · Primary metal manufacturing
  9. 2025Acorn Biolabs Inc.Toronto, ON · R&D in natural sciences
  10. 2025Dieform AutomationMississauga, ON · Machine shops
  11. 2025Premier Mining Products Inc.North Bay, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  12. 2025Miller Technology Inc.North Bay, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  13. 2025Old Forge Manufacturing LtdVerner, ON · Machine shops
  14. 2025DHL Machine WorkVal Caron, ON · Fabricated metal products
  15. 2025Rainy River Grain Company Ltd.Pinewood, ON · Oilseed and grain farming
  16. 2025Dryden Fibre Canada ULCDryden, ON · Manufacturing
  17. 2025Muskoka Millwrighting and Machining Ltd.Huntsville, ON · Steel product manufacturing
  18. 2025Lofthouse ManufacturingBurks Falls, ON · Fabricated metal products
  19. 2025Temiskaming Industrial Mining Equipment LimitedHaileybury, ON · Machinery manufacturing
  20. 2025Formedge Inc.Windsor, ON · Fabricated metal products
  21. 2025Titus Steel Company LimitedMississauga, ON · Wholesale trade
  22. 2025A.U.G. Signals Ltd.Toronto, ON · Automatic environment control mfg
  23. 2025Havelock Metal Co.Peterborough, ON · Prefabricated metal buildings
  24. 2025Kit Steel Inc.Welland, ON · Iron and steel pipe and tube
  25. 2025Lawrence F Derouard Trucking LtdKenora, ON · Agriculture, forestry, fishing
  26. 2025Jahn Engineering Ltd.Oldcastle, ON · Plate work manufacturing
  27. 2025MW Canada Ltd.Cambridge, ON · Textile mills
  28. 2025CDN BuildingsDelhi, ON · Prefabricated metal buildings
  29. 2025Ideal Roofing Company LimitedOttawa, ON · Construction
  30. 2025Bleacher RentalsSimcoe, ON · Real estate and rental
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all Regional Tariff Response Initiative winners →

What it actually funds

RTRI mostly pays for equipment

51% of 158 awards to businesses since April 2023 went to buying equipment or machinery, and 18% to improving or automating operations.

Where the money went share of 158 awards

  • Buying equipment or machinery51% 81

    Projects of this kind typically received $736K since April 2023.

  • Improving or automating operations18% 28

    Projects of this kind typically received $750K since April 2023.

  • Building or expanding a facility17% 27

    Projects of this kind typically received $750K since April 2023.

    Real projects funded, in the government’s own words

    • Facility expansion and equipment purchase to enable production capacity expansion and cost efficiency gains.
    • To expand steel production and shipping capacity in Hamilton, Ontario.
    • Onshoring and expansion of steel products manufacturing to serve domestic critical minerals sector.
  • Entering new markets or exporting6% 10

    Real projects funded, in the government’s own words

    • To support commercialization of a flagship product in targeted international markets by establishing dedicated Ontario‑based sales functions for market expansion.
  • Other project types 8%adopting existing technology, developing a new physical product, marketing and sales and more

Rare here: developing a new physical product (3%) and marketing and sales (<1%). Only 2% of these projects created something new; most bought or expanded something that already exists.

Real projects funded in the government’s own words

Buying equipment or machinery

  • To modernize manufacturing operations and increase efficiency by acquiring and installing advanced production equipment to streamline fabrication processes.
  • To invest in a state-of-the-art robotic welding line.

Improving or automating operations

  • To replace its manual paint processes with a fully automated system to boost productivity, enhance competitiveness, and expand into new markets.
  • To modernize a manufacturing facility through advanced automation and digital workflows.

Where in a company’s journey it pays

Most staged projects here were at the grow what works stage (73%).

  1. <1%Explore an idea
  2. <1%Build something new
  3. <1%Test and prove it
  4. 2%Launch it
  5. 73%Grow what works

The other 23% were not staged projects (hiring, advice, events) or did not say.

More about these projects

New, or more of what already works?

2% created something new89% bought or expanded something that already exists

The remaining 9% were a mix of both, or the description did not say.

  • 79%Leaves a physical asset behind
  • 8%Aimed at markets outside Canada
  • 3%Claims an environmental benefit

99% of these awards went to businesses in Ontario, so read this as the Ontario picture. How we know: we read the government’s published description of each award; an AI classifier sorted them, and we hand-checked a sample (92% correct). Individual awards can be misfiled, so read the shares as approximate. 29 more awards had descriptions too vague to sort and are left out. Federal disclosure lists awards above $25,000 only. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

A national program delivered through all 7 Regional Development Agencies (ACOA, CED, CanNor, FedNor, FedDev Ontario, PrairiesCan, PacifiCan) helping SMEs affected by U.S. and China tariffs. Since the September 2026 expansion it funds two things: liquidity assistance (up to $2 million non-repayable, up to 50% of eligible costs, covering payroll and essential operating costs for up to 12 months) and pivot projects that boost productivity, diversify markets and strengthen supply chains (up to $1 million non-repayable for projects with local or regional economic benefits, up to 50% of eligible costs). A business can combine them for up to $3 million non-repayable. Pivot projects over $1 million are funded as interest-free REPAYABLE contributions of up to 75% of costs, and total RTRI funding per business is capped at $20 million. ISED's national page states $3.45 billion over 4 years. Pivot project costs can start up to 12 months before the application date.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Incorporated for-profit business located and operating in the region of the agency you apply to, with at least $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of your last two fiscal years.
  • No years-in-operation or employee-count test is published on the current agency pages. Agencies assess program criteria, demonstrated need and your proposed response to tariff impacts. Confirm details with your own agency.
  • Must demonstrate direct or indirect tariff impact, for example: operating in a sector hit by Section 232 or 338 tariffs (including as a supply chain partner to an exporter), at least 25% of revenue from goods ultimately exported to the U.S., or significant tariff-driven cost increases, supply chain disruption or lost revenue or customers
  • Business must have been viable prior to March 21, 2025 (businesses established later may be considered case by case if tariffs since then have hurt them)
  • Non-repayable funding is capped at $3 million per business in combination (up to $2 million liquidity plus up to $1 million pivot project); total RTRI funding including repayable is capped at $20 million. Previous RTRI recipients may be eligible for liquidity assistance if costs are not already funded by an existing agreement.
  • Not-for-profit organizations whose primary focus is to support businesses can get project funding. They are not eligible for liquidity support for their own operating expenses.
  • Non-repayable pivot projects (up to $1 million) must show broader local or regional economic benefits; liquidity applicants must show material tariff-related liquidity needs and commit to maintaining operations and employment in Canada
  • Indigenous applicants: PrairiesCan normally funds up to 80% of eligible costs on commercial projects (at least 20% from non-PrairiesCan sources) and up to 100% on non-commercial projects
  • Canadian content is a scored preference at PrairiesCan and a mandatory form question at PrairiesCan and PacifiCan; PrairiesCan's attestation form requires a two-year table of Canadian-input spend against cost of goods sold, and PacifiCan a 3,000-character narrative on Canadian technologies and products.
  • 50% reimbursement applies to non-repayable for-profit funding only. Repayable contributions can reach 75% of eligible costs; not-for-profit applicants up to 90-100%; Indigenous applicants 80% (commercial) to 100% (non-commercial). Do not build a 50/50 budget without confirming which rate applies to your applicant type.
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Friendly

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $3,000,000 non-repayable per business ($2,000,000 liquidity assistance plus $1,000,000 for a pivot project, each up to 50% of eligible costs); pivot projects over $1,000,000 are interest-free repayable (up to 75% of costs); $20,000,000 total cap across all RTRI funding.
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing. Intake varies by Regional Development Agency; PrairiesCan accepts applications until December 31, 2028 or until funding is fully committed. Liquidity support must end by March 31, 2028 and pivot projects must be completed by March 31, 2029.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Accessibility
3/5

Moderate — standard application process

Competition
3/5

Moderate competition — prepare a strong application

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Approval Rate
Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

Apply to the RDA where your principal operations are located, and you cannot shop between agencies.

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Rejection Pitfalls 8

  • Insufficient tariff impact evidence — unable to demonstrate 25% sales to affected markets or quantify negative impact
+7 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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How RTRI judges your application

What the reviewer scores, what gets applications rejected, and what to write.

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Written answers24≈6.3k words from the funder’s limits
Judged on12 criteria
Can reject you11 rules
To attach11 documents

Distilled from 6+ source documents, condensed into one brief. Sources as of 2026-09-03.

6 of the sources

What RTRI favours

Detail assumptions behind your economic outcomes◦

“Identify and detail all assumptions to support the reasonableness of your economic outcomes.”

2 more, in their words

The form2 prompts shown

PrairiesCan expression of interest11 sections · ≈950 words
  1. 1Organization description and summary (PrairiesCan EOI)written answer · 500 characters

    Provide a brief description and summary of your organization. (Maximum of 500 characters)

  2. 2Project title (PrairiesCan EOI)short answer · 90 characters
  3. 3Project activities in plain language (PrairiesCan EOI)written answer · 1,000 characters

    Briefly describe your project activities in plain language. This is an important section as it will be used in summary documents to describe your project at various review stages. (Maximum of 1,000 characters including spaces)

  4. 4Economic benefits directly associated with the project (PrairiesCan EOI)written answer · 1,000 characters
  5. 5Which Regional Development Agency (RDA) Priority does this project best support? (PrairiesCan EOI)selectionno limit
  6. 6Explain how this project supports the indicated priority (PrairiesCan EOI)written answer · 2,000 characters
  7. 7Description of types of costs (not activities) (PrairiesCan EOI)tableno limit
  8. 8Cash flows by fiscal year (PrairiesCan EOI)spreadsheetno limit
  9. 9Project partnerships (PrairiesCan EOI)written answer · 1,200 characters
  10. 10EOI attestation (PrairiesCan)checkboxno limit
  11. 11Required documents with the EOI (PrairiesCan)listno limit
PrairiesCan attestation and supplemental form3 sections · ≈350 words
  1. 12Canadian inputs - table and description (PrairiesCan attestation and supplemental form)written answer · 2,000 characters
  2. 13Non-repayable eligibility acknowledgement (PrairiesCan attestation form)yes/no + writtenno limit
  3. 14Steel industry declaration (PrairiesCan attestation form)selectionno limit
PrairiesCan full application11 sections · ≈3000 words
  1. 15Full project description (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 3,000 characters
  2. 16How indicators will be achieved and tracked (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 3,000 characters
  3. 17Project rationale and the case for RDA involvement (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  4. 18How your activity, service or product differs (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  5. 19Governance and oversight (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  6. 20Qualifications of the project team (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  7. 21Most significant project risk and mitigation (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  8. 22Describe your competition (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  9. 23Benefits to Francophone communities (PrairiesCan full application)yes/no + written · 1,500 characters
  10. 24Alignment with other government and industry priorities (PrairiesCan full application)written answer · 1,500 characters
  11. 25Additional details - incorporated businesses only (PrairiesCan full application)listno limit
FedNor initial application15 sections · ≈1000 words
  1. 26Organization description (FedNor initial application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  2. 27Organization history (FedNor initial application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  3. 28Eligibility attestation - years in operation (FedNor initial application)selectionno limit
  4. 29Primary operating industry (FedNor initial application)selectionno limit
  5. 30Tariff impact attestation (FedNor initial application)checkboxesno limit
  6. 31Other tariff impact explanation (FedNor initial application)written answer · 750 characters
  7. 32Project title (FedNor initial application)short answer · 250 characters
  8. 33Project description and key activities (FedNor initial application)written answer · 2,000 characters
  9. 34Estimated project start and end dates (FedNor initial application)short answerno limit
  10. 35Economic benefits (FedNor initial application)written answer · 1,000 characters
  11. 36Jobs created and jobs maintained (FedNor initial application)tableno limit
  12. 37Project costs (FedNor initial application)tableno limit
  13. 38Project funding sources (FedNor initial application)tableno limit
  14. 39Certification (FedNor initial application)checkboxno limit
  15. 40Attachments (FedNor initial application)listno limit
PacifiCan supplemental form2 sections · ≈1000 words
  1. 41Canadian technologies and products (PacifiCan supplemental form)yes/no + written · 3,000 characters
  2. 42Non-repayable justification (PacifiCan supplemental form)written answer · 3,000 characters

bar = length the funder allows, from its stated limits

40 more prompts, in the funder’s words

Judged against4 questions · 12 criteria

  1. 1

    Do the tariffs actually hurt this business?

    Show them Quantify the tariff hit in dollars and percentages and attach the supplier notice, cancelled order or customs entry that proves it.◦

    In the funder’s words · 3
    • Degree to which the company and/or sector are impacted by tariffs
    • Ability to demonstrate that the project will assist the client in mitigating any negative impact as a result of the U.S./China tariffs or Canada's counter-tariffs
    • The extent of the impact on the SME due to the economic context (of turnover derived from direct or indirect exports, proportion of inputs affected by customs duties, extent of the rise in production costs, loss of revenue and loss of profitability).
  2. 2

    What economic benefit does this project create?

    What to show, and the funder’s 4 criteria behind it in Premium

  3. 3

    Can this team deliver the plan and budget?

    What to show, and the funder’s 3 criteria behind it in Premium

  4. 4

    Is this a priority sector the RDA should back?

    What to show, and the funder’s 2 criteria behind it in Premium

Where applicants failin RTRI’s words

“Incomplete EOIs cannot be assessed and may be deemed ineligible.”
“PrairiesCan will not assess incomplete EOIs or saved EOIs that have not been submitted.”

10 more, in the funder’s words

Premium · the rest of this brief

See all 11 rules that can reject you and every criterion you are judged on. Then we draft your application for you.

9 more rules that can reject you · 9 more criteria · 40 more prompts

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Do you pass?11 checks

Each one can rule you out. Tick the ones you meet.

Your business

  • Tariff-impacted small or medium business

    The RTRI provides $3.45 billion over 4 years to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) impacted by tariffs to help them adapt to changing market conditions, strengthen their competitiveness, diversify into new markets, and build greater trade resilience with more flexibility to address liquidity pressures.

  • Viable before the tariffs

    Viability before the tariffs and before March 21, 2025 is required at ACOA, CED, FedDev Ontario, PacifiCan and PrairiesCan.

9 more checks

2 things this funder says you do NOT need, in Premium.

Documents to attach11

Ticks are kept on this device.

The money

Non-repayable rateUp to 50%, max $1 million

Non-repayable to a maximum of $1 million reimburses up to 50% of eligible costs

Repayable rateUp to 75%

Repayable reimburses up to 75%

PrairiesCan request$500,000 to $5 million

Minimum funding request of $500,000 and maximum of $5 million per project

FedDev request bandsRepayable $125,000–$10 million; non-repayable $125,000–$1 million

$125,000 to $10 million in repayable funding; or $125,000 to $1 million in non-repayable funding

CED minimum and cap50%/75% max; min $100,000; cap $300,000

Minimum assistance $100,000; market-diversification-only projects capped at $300,000 non-repayable; 50% max rate non-repayable, 75% repayable

Indigenous applicantsUp to 80% commercial, 100% non-commercial

Indigenous applicants: up to 80% of eligible costs on commercial projects, up to 100% on non-commercial

Repayment terms1-year grace, 5-year monthly repayments

After project completion, there is normally a 1-year grace period, followed by equal monthly repayments over 5 years.

Claim reimbursementApproved eligible costs you have paid

reimbursements are based on the approved portion of eligible projects costs that have been paid by you

Tax creditsTreated as government assistance

PrairiesCan considers tax credits received for activities undertaken between the project start and end date as a source of government assistance

Your share10% not-for-profit; 50% for-profit

Under most FedNor programs, the applicant contribution is normally a minimum of 10 percent of project costs for not-for-profit applicants and normally a minimum of 50 percent of project costs for for-profit applicants.

StackingUp to 90% commercial, 100% non-commercial

Government funding (federal, provincial, and municipal) can cover up to: 90% of project costs for businesses or commercial (revenue-generating) projects; 100% of project costs for non-commercial projects

Costs before approval12 months retroactive; earliest March 21, 2025

Costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis up to a 12-month period prior to the receipt of a signed funding request, but no earlier than March 21, 2025.

What it pays for · 1
  • Cost of labour (e.g., wages and benefits) and of material used that are incremental and directly related to the project; Capital costs: purchase of machinery, equipment and infrastructure; Consultancy fees (e.g. professional, and technical services); Advisory Expenses (e.g., planning, business information, counselling advisory services; coaching, mentoring or networking events; workshops or conference fees; fees associated with participation in business training through a business service organization); and Costs related to expanding or maintaining markets
What it does not pay for · 3
  • basic and applied R&D ( technology readiness levels 1-6 ); land acquisition and goodwill; salary bonuses and dividend payments; entertainment and hospitality expenses; refinancing of existing debts; amortization or depreciation of assets; purchase of any assets for more than their fair market value; lobbying activities; donations, dues, and membership fees
  • Generally, the following costs/activities will not be supported: business plan preparation; hospitality and other related costs; sole sourced consultant fees; fees related to advocacy work
  • Regular maintenance and/or ongoing operation costs; Regularly scheduled capital expenditures and/or asset replacement; Refinancing of an existing debt; Costs of amortization and goodwill; Acquisition of land and buildings; Entertainment expenses; Lobbying activities; Basic research; The purchase of any assets for more than the fair market value of the said asset; and Costs for which the applicant has entered into a legal commitment/incurred prior to the eligibility date.

From application to money

  1. Talk to an officerContact officer before applying
  2. Submit your applicationSubmit to regional agency until December 31, 2027
  3. EOI triagewithin 30 daysEOI invited within 30 days
  4. Funding decision90 business daysDecision within 90 business days
  5. Progress reportsProgress reports at least twice yearly
In the funder’s words · 5
Talk to an officer
Please contact a FedNor officer to discuss your project prior to submitting an application
Submit your application
Your application goes to the single regional development agency covering where the business is located and operating. (until December 31, 2027 or until all funding is committed)
EOI triage
Within 30 days of submission, EOIs with the strongest merit and alignment with program objectives, priority areas, and significant economic benefits will be invited to complete a full application and undergo detailed assessment.
Funding decision
Funding decisions are usually made within 90 business days of receiving a complete application.
Progress reports
Reporting continues at least twice a year while the project runs and while any repayable amount is outstanding.

Quoted lines are word for word from the source documents; lines marked ◦ are our reading of them.

What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win RTRI

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Complete Self-Screening Tool FedDev Ontario publishes an online self-screening tool to determine basic eligibility before investing time in the full application (its intake is currently paused). No self-screening tool was found at ACOA, CED, CanNor, FedNor, PrairiesCan or PacifiCan — their published first step is a conversation with a program officer.

Required Documents 9

✓ Completed application form (varies by RDA)
✓ Incorporation documents including amendments and ownership structure

Eligible Expenses 10

Ineligible Expenses 9

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

SR&ED Tax Credits BDC Pivot to Grow Loan CanExport SMEs NRC-IRAP Ontario Together Trade Fund
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
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How RTRI Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

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Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (... Up to $3,000,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing. Intake varies...
BDC Pivot to Grow Up to $5,000,000 Moderate Advance Payment Ongoing
CanExport SMEs Up to $50,000 Moderate Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Between intakes — the...
Ontario Together Trade Fund Up to $5 million Hard Milestone-Based Continuous intake...

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about RTRI

Free
Can I apply if my business is only 2 years old?
No official age test is published on the current agency pages. You need $1 million or more in annual revenue in one of your last two fiscal years and must have been viable before March 21, 2025. A business established after that date may be considered case by case if tariffs since then have hurt it.
What's the typical award amount for a manufacturing business?
It depends on the stream. Liquidity assistance is based mainly on 50% of average monthly payroll for up to 12 months, capped at $2 million. Non-repayable pivot projects are capped at $1 million and need local or regional economic benefits. You can combine both for up to $3 million non-repayable. Pivot projects over $1 million are interest-free repayable contributions of up to 75% of costs, and total RTRI funding per business is capped at $20 million.
When must my project be completed by?
Liquidity support must end by March 31, 2028. Pivot projects must be completed by March 31, 2029. Pivot costs can start up to 12 months before your application date.
Do I need to secure matching funds before applying?
Yes for pivot projects and liquidity support alike: both cover up to 50% of eligible costs, so the rest must come from you or other sources. BDC Pivot to Grow loans are designed to help fund the applicant's share.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Insufficient tariff impact evidence — unable to demonstrate 25% sales to U.S./China markets or quantify revenue loss/cost increases with invoices and contracts.

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