Waterloo Region & Guelph

MixedFederal program

Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) for Businesses

RTRI helps southern Ontario businesses hit by U.S. tariffs and other trade disruptions. It can cover short-term operating costs or a longer project to change how and where you sell. It's for businesses with at least $1 million in yearly revenue and real tariff exposure.

Amount
Liquidity help up to $2 million for up to 12 months (non-repayable, up to 50% of costs). Pivot projects up to $1 million non-repayable (up to 50%), or over $1 million repayable (up to 75%). Up to $3 million non-repayable and $20 million in total.
Status
Open nowAccepting applications. No deadline is listed. Liquidity support ends by March 31, 2028, and pivot projects must be finished by March 31, 2029.
Type
Non-repayable and repayable contributions
Run by
Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)
Where
All of Ontario
Checked on
Nov 13, 2026

Who it's for

  • Incorporated for-profit businesses located and operating in southern Ontario
  • At least $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the last two fiscal years
  • Viable before the tariffs
  • Affected by trade disruptions such as U.S. tariffs, Canadian countermeasures or countervailing duties, for example with at least 25% of revenue from goods ultimately exported to the U.S.

Not for

  • Retail businesses
  • Local consumer services such as hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation
  • Oil and gas extraction and construction services, generally
  • Businesses that can't show direct or indirect tariff exposure

What it covers

  • Liquidity: wages and essential recurring costs such as rent, utilities, business insurance and property taxes
  • Pivot projects: modernizing processes, adopting equipment and technology (including automation), finding new markets, export development and supply chain resilience

How to apply

  1. Gather externally prepared financial statements for the last 2 fiscal years plus the latest interim, incorporation documents and contact details for your top executive. Liquidity requests also need last month's payroll records and a cash flow forecast. Pivot projects also need staff biographies and a project schedule.
  2. Download the RTRI application form (business version) on a computer and fill it in with Adobe Acrobat Reader, using the Application Guide.
  3. Attach your documents, submit and keep the confirmation.

Good to know

  • Repayable funding has to be paid back.
  • You can apply for liquidity help and a pivot project at the same time.
  • Some professional, technical, warehousing and logistics businesses can qualify if they're critical to a tariff-hit manufacturing exporter's supply chain.
  • Businesses under $1 million in revenue are pointed to FedDev Ontario at info@feddevontario.gc.ca.
  • FedDev Ontario's service area lists 37 census divisions, including Waterloo and Wellington.

Questions

Can a restaurant or shop apply?

Generally no. The official page lists retail and local consumer services such as restaurants, hotels and recreation as not eligible.

Is any of it non-repayable?

Yes. Liquidity help up to $2 million and pivot projects up to $1 million are non-repayable, up to $3 million combined. Pivot funding over $1 million is repayable.

Is there a deadline?

The official pages say FedDev is accepting applications and don't list a deadline. Liquidity funding periods end by March 31, 2028.

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