Lead applicant must be one of
municipal government, economic development organization, sector or industry association, or business accelerator/incubator (Stream 2 only)
Services
Ontario Trade-Impacted Communities Program
Ontario grants (up to $40M total) supporting local projects that promote economic resiliency, increase export and investment opportunities, and bolster Ontario's strategic priority sectors and their supply chains in response to U.S. trade disruption.
Overview
Ontario grants (up to $40M total) supporting local projects that promote economic resiliency, increase export and investment opportunities, and bolster Ontario's strategic priority sectors and their supply chains in response to U.S. trade disruption.
Key numbers
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Instrument | grant |
| Level | provincial |
| Region | Ontario |
| Administrator | Ministry of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade |
| Cost share | 100% |
| Min per project | $250,000 |
| Max per project | $10,000,000 |
| Project size | $250,000 - $10,000,000 |
| Budget | $40,000,000 |
| Total gov stacking cap | 100% |
| Intake status | Closed (program intake closed as of August 2026) |
| Non-US bias | Responds to U.S. trade disruption: supports projects that diversify export markets and supply chains |
Eligibility
Lead applicants must have at least 2 years of substantive operational experience
Operating within Ontario and in compliance with applicable laws
Not-for-profit organizations without an economic development mandate, private sector organizations, local business advocacy organizations (chambers of commerce, boards of trade, BIAs), labour unions and charities are ineligible
What it covers
Stream 1 - Community Economic Development
community projects responding to U.S. trade disruption, including immediate resiliency measures, local strategy development and implementation, and efforts to diversify export markets; up to 100% of eligible costs from $250,000 to $2 million per project depending on project and community size
Stream 2 - Larger-scale projects
up to 100% of eligible costs from $2 million to $10 million per project depending on project size and complexity
Market and diversification rules
Preference for projects that directly accelerate business growth and innovation, develop and deploy new made-in-Ontario technologies or processes, and align with provincial priorities such as defence and housing
Priority strategic sectors include advanced manufacturing, automotive, life sciences, technology, critical minerals, forestry, and agri-food
How to apply
Program intake is currently closed; monitor the Trade-Impacted Communities Program page for future intake windows
Review the plain-language program page and the program guidelines to confirm applicant type and stream
Applications are submitted to the province and assessed against eligibility and merit criteria
Stacking notes
Cannot combine (stack) Trade-Impacted Communities Program funding with other provincial programs
Funding may be stacked with federal programs up to 100% of project costs
Notes
Up to $40 million in grants starting in 2025-26, flexible and tailored to the needs of individual communities and local industries
Applications for funding were under review as of the 2026 Ontario Budget (March 2026)
First allocation
$838,000 to the Town of Amherstburg for an Investment Readiness and Economic Diversification Strategy
Relevant services
The services below are grant-eligible: CanExport and EDC reimburse up to 50% for incorporated Canadian exporters.
Book a free readiness call
Grant programs can reimburse up to 50% of eligible market-entry costs. In one free call we tell you honestly whether your product fits a non-US market.
Book a free readiness call