Open, continuous intake Partly repayable

FedNor Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI)

by Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario

Also known as: RTRI · Regional Tariff Response Initiative

FedNor's Regional Tariff Response Initiative helps Northern Ontario businesses hurt by U.S. tariffs and trade disruption. Liquidity assistance pays up to 50% of salaries and essential operating costs, non-repayable up to $2 million, for up to 12 months. Pivot projects (productivity, automation, new markets, supply chain resilience) get up to $1 million non-repayable at up to 50%, or repayable funding over $1 million at up to 75%. Applicants must be incorporated for-profit businesses with at least $1 million in annual revenue that can show tariff exposure; retail and local consumer services, healthcare included, are generally not eligible. FedNor assesses applications as they are received.

Amount: Liquidity assistance: non-repayable, up to $2 million and up to 50% of eligible costs, for up to 12 months. Pivot projects: non-repayable up to $1 million at up to 50% of eligible costs, or repayable over $1 million at up to 75%. At most $3 million non-repayable and $20 million in total per business.
fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Nov 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
A business may receive up to a maximum of $3 million in combined non-repayable funding, consisting of up to $2 million in liquidity assistance and up to $1 million for a non-repayable pivot project. | A business may receive up to a maximum of $20 million in total RTRI funding.
Instrument: Mixed instruments
Status: Open, continuous intake no fixed deadline; approvals on the funder's cycle
Who qualifies: Businesses Nonprofits and charities
business
nonprofit
Incorporated for-profit business located and operating in Northern Ontario
At least $1 million in annual revenue in one or both of the last two fiscal years
Viable before March 21, 2025
Must show tariff exposure: a Section 232 or 338 tariff-hit sector (exporter or supply chain partner), 25% or more of revenue from goods ultimately exported to the U.S., or demonstrated harm from tariffs
Generally not eligible: retail businesses and local consumer services (hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare, recreation), oil and gas extraction, construction services
Not-for-profits whose primary focus is supporting businesses can apply for projects, not for their own operating costs
fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Nov 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source
be an incorporated for-profit business located and operating in Northern Ontario | retail businesses, businesses providing local consumer services (e.g., hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare, recreation), and oil and gas extraction and construction services generally are not eligible
Where: Algoma District · Cochrane District · Greater Sudbury (single-tier census division) · Kenora District · Manitoulin District · Nipissing District · Parry Sound District · Rainy River District · Sudbury District (excl. Greater Sudbury) · Thunder Bay District · Timiskaming District · District Municipality of Muskoka
11 of 11 Northern Ontario districts are eligible for this program. A filled dot is eligible, an outline is not.
Built for: Small business, expansion Nonprofits & charities

How do you apply?

Review FedNor's application guide
Apply through the FedNor self-service portal (a one-phase application)
FedNor assesses applications as they are received; approval depends on funding availability

fednor.canada.ca · Last verified Nov 2, 2026 · Auto-checked against official source

The application process is one phase and is submitted through the FedNor self-service portal. | All applications will be assessed as they are received.

Common questions

Can a clinic, shop or restaurant apply?

Generally no. FedNor lists retail businesses and businesses providing local consumer services, such as hotels, restaurants, utilities, healthcare and recreation, as generally not eligible.

Is there a deadline?

FedNor publishes no intake deadline: it assesses applications as they are received, and approval depends on funding availability. Liquidity funding must end by March 31, 2028 and pivot projects must be complete by March 31, 2029.

Where else could this money come from?

Chosen by what these programs have in common with this one, not by hand. The reason is shown for each, so you can judge whether it holds.

Regional Artificial Intelligence Initiative (RAII) for Northern Ontario Open, continuous intake
same funder (FedNor); both for small business, expansion and nonprofits & charities; fednor, continuous intake · Up to 50% of costs
Economic Development Initiative (EDI) in Northern Ontario Open, continuous intake
same funder (FedNor); both for nonprofits & charities; fednor · Up to 90% of costs
Community Futures Program (Northern Ontario) Status unconfirmed
same funder (FedNor); both for small business, expansion; fednor · Varies; see program
Community Investment Initiative for Northern Ontario (CIINO) Open, continuous intake
same funder (FedNor); both for nonprofits & charities; fednor · Up to $100,000

Notes on this record

Found by ChangeDetect on FedNor's program index (first seen 2026-09-09); added 2026-11-02 from FedNor's own page.

Apply

Apply on the funder’s site and confirm current terms there:

fednor.canada.ca