Ontario Together Trade Fund: How Small Businesses Can Get Up to $5 Million

Key Takeaways

• The Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) offers grants or interest-free loans of up to $5 million to help SMEs adapt to U.S. tariff disruptions.
• Most approved projects receive 10–20% of eligible costs; the maximum 75% is reserved for projects with exceptional benefit to Ontario.
• Applicants need at least 3 years of operating history and 5 full-time employees, plus a minimum project investment of $200,000.
• Loans are interest-free during the project period and up to 30% (max $1.5 million) may be forgiven if job and investment targets are met.
• Applications are accepted on a continuous, rolling basis — there’s no fixed deadline, but the fund closes once its budget is exhausted.

What the Fund Is For

Unlike a working-capital loan meant to cover payroll or rent, the OTTF is designed for forward-looking investment. It supports Ontario businesses making near-term changes to reduce reliance on the U.S. market — whether that means reaching new customers, reshoring supply chains, or retooling operations.

The province has tied funding directly to three priorities:

• Trade diversity — expanding into new markets, especially interprovincial trade
• Trade security — boosting manufacturing capacity, competitiveness, and domestic supply chains
• Job creation or retention in Ontario

Who Can Apply

To be eligible, a business must:

1. Be a for-profit legal entity or limited partnership operating in Ontario
2. Have at least 3 years of operating history with financial statements
3. Employ at least 5 full-time equivalent staff
4. Show tariff-related impact, such as:
   • Operating in a heavily tariffed sector (steel, auto, aluminum, etc.)
   • Revenue loss of 30% or higher tied to trade risk
   • Pivoting to supply a customer replacing a U.S.-exposed supplier

Sole proprietors, retailers, consulting firms, and personal service providers are not eligible — this program is aimed squarely at manufacturers, producers, and similar operating businesses.

What’s Excluded

A few categories won’t qualify regardless of tariff impact:

• Routine maintenance or exact equipment replacements (upgraded technology is fine)
• Refinancing, acquisitions, or buyouts
• Relocating within Ontario
• Electricity, waste management, or hospitality projects (hotels, restaurants)

How Much Funding You Can Get

Funding structure works like this:

• Typical support: 10–20% of eligible project costs
• Maximum support: 75% of eligible costs, capped at $5 million — reserved for projects with exceptional benefit to Ontario
• Loan terms: Interest-free for up to 2 years, generally repaid over 4 years
• Forgiveness: Up to 30% (max $1.5 million) forgiven if investment and job targets are hit

Eligible costs span a wide range — facilities, equipment, one-time labour, training, permits, and new market access costs like certification or product testing.

Minimum Investment Required

Projects must involve at least $200,000 in eligible costs, be completed within 2 years, and be a distinct undertaking separate from day-to-day operations. The province also expects all project financing to be confirmed before the start date — this isn’t a program for speculative planning.

How to Apply, Step by Step

1. Complete the mandatory online self-assessment tool on the Ontario government’s OTTF page to check preliminary eligibility.
2. Connect with an assigned Ontario Advisor if your self-assessment suggests you qualify — this step is required before applying.
3. Register with Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON), the province’s funding application system, using your legal business name and CRA business number.
4. Work with your advisor to submit the full application, including supplemental documentation supporting your tariff-impact claims and project plan.

Because this is a discretionary, non-entitlement program, meeting the eligibility criteria doesn’t guarantee funding — applications are also assessed against provincial priorities like supply chain resilience, job creation, and innovation.

Is OTTF Right for Your Business?

If your business needs help covering payroll or rent right now, this program isn’t the fastest fit — the Protect Ontario Financing Program is built for that kind of working-capital pressure. OTTF works best for businesses ready to invest in adapting long-term, not just weathering a short-term shock. For a full comparison of what’s available, our complete guide to Ontario tariff relief breaks down how the major programs differ, and rising costs like Ontario’s climbing property taxes may factor into which option makes more sense for your business right now.

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