If tariffs have touched your bottom line this year (whether through rising input costs, disrupted supply chains, lost customers, or stalled growth plans), the federal government wants to help, and it just put more money behind that promise.
The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) has received a significant funding boost, and if your business operates in Alberta, this is worth five minutes of your time.
What’s changed
The federal government recently announced additional support through RTRI, including:
- An additional $1.5 billion in funding added to the initiative
- A higher funding ceiling: the maximum non-repayable contribution has increased from $1 million to $3 million
- New liquidity support: businesses with demonstrated cash-flow needs may now access up to $2 million specifically to help with liquidity
- Broader eligible activities: funding is available for projects tied to productivity improvements, supply-chain resilience, business pivots, and entry into new markets
For Alberta businesses, RTRI is administered through PrairiesCan, and the federal government has indicated that further details on the expanded funding will be released in the coming weeks.
Who this is really for
RTRI was built with tariff-exposed businesses in mind, and this expansion is particularly relevant if you’re in:
- Manufacturing
- Steel
- Automotive
- Food and beverage
- Other industrial and trade-exposed sectors
That said, “tariff-impacted” covers more ground than most business owners assume. You don’t need to be directly exporting to the US, or directly named in a tariff order, to have a case. Rising input costs because a supplier upstream is tariffed, a customer who’s pulled back spending because of trade uncertainty, or a pivot you’re already planning to reduce reliance on a single market can all be relevant.
What the funding can be used for
Based on the current program details, eligible projects generally fall into a few buckets:
- Productivity investments — equipment, technology, or process improvements that make your business more competitive
- Supply-chain resilience — diversifying suppliers, building redundancy, reducing exposure to a single source or market
- Business pivots and new markets — helping businesses adapt their model or find new customers outside tariff-affected trade lanes
- Liquidity support — for businesses that can demonstrate the tariff environment has created real cash-flow pressure
Why the timing matters
Funding programs like this are typically reviewed on a rolling basis, with support allocated until the money runs out – not on a fixed deadline that gives everyone equal footing. A bigger pool of funding is good news, but it also tends to draw more applicants. Getting your business assessed and, if eligible, your application earlier rather than later puts you in a stronger position.
To be clear: not every business will qualify, and applying isn’t a guarantee of funding. But given the scale of this expansion, it’s worth finding out where you stand rather than assuming the answer is no.
Not sure if you qualify? That’s okay.
You don’t need to have this figured out on your own. Reach out to your HGA advisor and we’ll help you work through whether RTRI – or another funding opportunity – may apply to your business, and what a strong application would need to include.
Has your business been impacted by tariffs? You may qualify for federal funding. Contact your HGA advisor to find out.
This post is based on publicly announced program details as of August 2026. Program terms, funding availability, and eligibility criteria are set by the Government of Canada and PrairiesCan and may change; additional details on the expanded funding are expected to be released. This content is for general informational purposes and isn’t a guarantee of funding or eligibility — HGA can help you assess your specific situation.
