Updated August 2026 · Verified against Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) guidelines
Reimbursement Est. 2025
Grant Federal Active

Regional Tariff Response Initiative — Non-Repayable Stream (FedDev Ontario)

Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Maximum Funding
$125,000 to $1,000,000 (non-repayable)
Ongoing — rolling intake until funds exhausted
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Stable
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Regional Tariff Response Initiative — Non-Repayable Stream (FedDev Ontario) provides up to $125,000 to $1,000,000 (non-repayable). Non-repayable grants of $125,000 to $1,000,000 for southern Ontario businesses impacted by U.S. and Chinese tariffs. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~40% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

101 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 105 awards since 2025. Typical award: $750K. Half of all awards fall between $647.1K and $1M. 99% 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 100%. Covers: FedDev Ontario RTRI contributions — all 105 rows; non-repayable stream is not separable from repayable stream in disclosure data (all agreement_type C). 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 105 awards since 2025. In 2025, 101 businesses were funded; 99% were for-profit companies.

101funded in 2025
$750Ktypical award
105awards since 2025
99%for-profit

Award size distribution. Half of awards fall between $647.1K and $1M, with a typical award of $750K.

Award sizes middle 50% of awards
$750K typical
Top sectors Other fabricated metal productsOther motor vehicle partsIron and steel pipe and tube(of classified recipients)
Top provinces ON 100%
101 companies received this grant in 2025. See the 40 most recent — and how much each received. Get Premium — $39/mo
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Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

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Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Non-repayable grants of $125,000 to $1,000,000 for southern Ontario businesses impacted by U.S. and Chinese tariffs. Covers up to 50% of eligible project costs for productivity enhancements, supply chain diversification, market expansion, and technology adoption. A portion of FedDev Ontario's investments prioritizes impacted businesses in the steel, automotive and food security sectors. Projects must address tariff impact through digitization, automation, reshoring, or market diversification. Costs may be retroactive up to 12 months before FedDev Ontario receives your signed application, but never earlier than March 21, 2025. Once-per-business lifetime restriction on non-repayable funding.

Eligibility Requirements

  • For-profit business incorporated and registered in Canada or Ontario for at least 3 years
  • Located and operating in southern Ontario with a physical business address (not P.O. box, co-working space, or residence)
  • Minimum 5 full-time equivalent employees in southern Ontario (part-time counted proportionally at 35+ hours/week standard)
  • Maximum 499 FTEs across the entire business
  • Was a viable business before tariffs imposed (before March 21, 2025)
  • Must demonstrate 25%+ sales in tariff-targeted markets OR documented direct tariff impact (cost increases, revenue loss, supply chain disruption)
  • You may have an active project with FedDev Ontario, but the RTRI project must be distinct and separate — and you can only have ONE open application to FedDev Ontario at a time, across any of its open programs
  • A business may only receive non-repayable RTRI funding once during the initiative's lifetime
Provinces
Ontario
Industries
All
Business Stage
Growth Established Expansion

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
Moderate
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
$125,000 to $1,000,000 (non-repayable)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing — rolling intake until funds exhausted

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Moderate
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~40%
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
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How to Win

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Insider Tip

Explicitly select 'Non-repayable RTRI' on the application form — failure to specify can result in being assessed for the repayable stream only.

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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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Application Playbook

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

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Application Steps

1 Complete the self-screening tool at FedDev Ontario website to determine eligibility

Required Documents 12

✓ Articles of incorporation with all amendments
✓ Ownership information (names and percentages of all owners)

Eligible Expenses 8

Ineligible Expenses 11

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

Ontario provincial tariff response programs Municipal economic development grants SR&ED Tax Credit Canada Digital Adoption Program
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Medium Risk
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How Regional Tariff Response Initiative — Non-... Compares

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Regional Tariff Response Initiative — Non-...

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Can sole proprietors apply?
No — must be incorporated and registered in Canada for at least 3 years. Sole proprietors don't meet the incorporation requirement.
What's the realistic award size?
$200,000-$500,000 — requires matching 50% of project costs (minimum $250,000 total project cost). $1M requires $2M+ project with tariff impact justification.
Why do applications get rejected?
No physical southern Ontario address (P.O. box or residence), inability to quantify tariff impact (e.g., no import cost analysis), or insufficient matching funds (in-kind not accepted).
Can I stack this with other programs?
Yes — combine with Ontario provincial programs, municipal grants, or Canada Digital Adoption Program (total government funding ≤90% of costs). SR&ED is allowed for R&D components.
Do I get paid upfront?
No — reimbursement model. Must pay costs first, then submit receipts. Matched funding must be secured before application.

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