Ontario Together Trade Fund

Before applying, applicants are encouraged to contact our team of Economic Development Officers who can help assess the fit with the program and provide advice on application preparation by calling (519) 332 1820 or email contact@sarnialambton.on.ca

The information below is from https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-together-trade-fund

Overview

The Ontario Together Trade Fund (OTTF) provides financial support to help businesses near-term investments so they can serve more interprovincial customers, develop new markets and re-shore critical supply chains in the face of U.S. tariffs.

Projects must address the impacts of U.S. trade disruptions and align with Ontario’s key economic priorities, including:

Trade diversity:

• Diversifying sales portfolios: Expanding market reach to new markets, with a focus on interprovincial trade.

Trade security:

• Enhancing competitiveness: Increasing manufacturing capacity and capabilities and increasing profitability through investments in advanced technology and innovative processes.
• Contributing to regional and sectoral ecosystems: Strengthening Ontario’s supply chains through reshoring and efforts to procure more equipment and supplies from Ontario and Canada.
• Creating and or retaining jobs

The types of support available includes funding and complementary supports and services.

Funding may be available to businesses operating within Ontario that meet the following requirements:

• make an investment to:
  • enhance domestic competitiveness
  • build capacity and local supply chain in Ontario, including reshoring/replacing U.S. based suppliers
  • pivot operations to manufacture less trade exposed goods
  • create and/or secure jobs in Ontario
  • other activities required to diversify revenue streams
• invest at least $200,000 in eligible project costs
• locate in a community in Ontario during the project period
• complete the project within 2 years
• demonstrate all financing will be in place by the project start date

A project is a distinct undertaking, separate from ongoing operations and that will result in benefits to the organization such as access to new markets.

Priority will be given to projects that aim to capitalize on domestic market opportunities and address gaps in Ontario’s supply chain caused by potential trade barriers and supply disruptions.

Eligibility

The fund supports for-profit businesses (legal entity or limited partnership) registered to carry out business in Ontario.

To be eligible, businesses need to:

• operate within Ontario
• have at least three years of operations/financial statements (refer to Operating Experience section in program guidelines to determine financial statement requirements)
• employ at least 5 full time equivalent (FTE’s) active employees
• demonstrate the following due to the imposition of U.S. tariffs:
  • operates in a sector extensively targeted by U.S. tariffs (for example, steel sector, auto sector, aluminum)
  • significant exposure to trade risk (for example, revenue loss of 30% or higher), or pivoting operations to supply a customer that is looking to replace a current supplier due to tariffs

Applicants that do not meet the minimum number of employees, but are significantly impacted by U.S. trade exposure, may still be considered for funding if the project demonstrates considerable benefits to Ontario’s economy.

Ineligible projects include:

• ongoing operations including maintenance and capital replacement (exact replacements are not eligible, upgraded technology/equipment would be considered eligible)
• refinancing of existing business operations.
• acquisitions and buyout
• restructuring, or relocating to other jurisdictions within Ontario
• electricity projects
• waste management/primary recycling
• hospitality projects (hotels and restaurants)

Ineligible applicants include:

• not-for-profit organizations/associations/charities
• sole proprietors
• retail
• construction companies providing primary construction services (production of construction products is eligible)
• providers of personal services
• consulting firms

Types of support available

Funding

Funding will be provided through a grant or loan up to a maximum of $5 million. Funding levels will be based on an assessment of the project impact.

Some projects may be considered up to a maximum of 75 per cent of eligible costs but this will only be considered if the project can demonstrate exceptional benefits to Ontario. OTTF offers conditional funding to support eligible project activities, including:

• business development, such as market diversification and sales expansion
• increasing capacity and creating and securing jobs in Ontario
• procurement of advanced equipment and facility modification to enhance domestic manufacturing, support reshoring and growing Ontario’s supply chain
• development of innovative technologies to boost the competitiveness of Ontario’s production and manufacturing capacity
• localization for new markets (for example, certification, legal, labelling, testing costs)
• modification of existing products to enter new sectors (for example, pivoting production from automotive fasteners to construction fasteners)
• increasing the resiliency of Ontario’s economy in response to trade related challenges, such as purchasing equipment and materials from local suppliers or shifting sales to non-U.S. markets

Eligible cost categories:

• facilities and infrastructure
• equipment and machinery
• one-time labour
• materials
• specialized expertise
• training and talent costs
• permits and fees
• new market access

Please see program guidelines for details on eligible and ineligible costs.

Complementary supports and services

Complementary supports and services are available when you submit a completed application. This could include:

• Advisory services: Access to expert guidance and support to navigate government programs and services.
• Assistance with compliance approvals: Support for processes such as obtaining necessary Ontario approvals and Ontario compliance certifications.
• Accessing skills and talent: Access to programs, services and information that facilitate the acquisition of skilled personnel and talent that are crucial for the project's success.

These services are available for the duration of your project regardless of the funding outcome. Services will be coordinated by working with partner ministries until they are delivered, closed-out or finalized.

Application deadlines and decisions

The application intake period will be open on April 23, 2025. The intake period is continuous which means applicants can submit their application any time while the program is open.

Registration on TPON and consulting with Ontario Advisor regarding your application is required.

How to apply

Review the key documents including, program guidelines.

Step1: Determine if you are eligible by completing the mandatory online self-assessment tool. If your self-assessment suggests you might qualify for funding, reach out to an Ontario Advisor to review your project as instructed in the self-assessment tool. This is a required step.

Step 2: Register for Transfer Payment Ontario.

• TPON is the Province of Ontario’s online application system for funding. Before applying for a funding opportunity, all applicants must first register with TPON following a three-step process.
• When registering an organization on TPON, ensure you have the necessary information (for example, legal business name) and official business documents (for example, Canadian Revenue Agency Business Number) readily available. Please enter the data accurately to avoid unnecessary delays.
• Applicants with technical questions about TPON can contact the TPON Customer Service Line toll-free at 1-855-216-3090 or toll-free TTY at 1-800-268-7095, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, or by email at tponcc@ontario.ca.

Step 3: Work with your Ontario advisor to complete and submit the application forms, along with the required supplemental information. Learn about submitting an application form on TPON.

Selection criteria

Projects will be assessed based on alignment with provincial priorities such as:

• building local supply chain capacity in Ontario, including reshoring/replacing U.S. based suppliers
• diversification of market reach beyond the U.S., with an emphasis on expanding revenue streams to new markets, particularly through inter-provincial trade
• manufacturing capacity expansion and investment in new technologies
• job creation or retention
• upskilling/training
• development of economic clusters/supply-chains
• extent to which government support improves project outcomes and/or impacts the project’s scope or timelines
• increased innovation (for example, introducing a new product or process to the province/country/industry, resulting in new intellectual property, etc.)
• project risks (for example, management, financial and market risks)

Questions

For more information, please contact us at: ottf@ontario.ca

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