Regional Tariff Response Initiative in British Columbia-Types of RTRI support available for businesses
Accepting applications.
Types of RTRI support available for businesses
RTRI offers different types of support to help tariff-impacted businesses maintain operations, strengthen competitiveness, and build long-term resilience.
Liquidity assistance
Funding for businesses experiencing tariff-related financial pressures. This support is intended to help companies maintain Canadian operations and retain employees while responding to trade disruptions and planning for longer-term resilience.
Non-repayable funding:
- Up to $2 million
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
Funding period: Up to 12 months, ending no later than March 31, 2028.
Pivot projects
Investments for businesses undertaking activities that improve productivity, increase competitiveness, and reduce exposure to future trade disruptions.
Non-repayable funding:
- Up to $1 million for projects with local or regional economic benefits
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
Repayable funding:
- Over $1 million for larger scale transformative projects
- Up to 75% of eligible costs
Funding period: start and end dates can vary by project, but all projects must be completed by no later than March 31, 2029.
Eligible businesses may apply for up to 12 months of liquidity assistance, pivot project funding, or both.
- 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 when repayable support is included. This maximum could include non-repayable liquidity assistance, up to $2 million.
The initiative will focus on small and medium-sized enterprises facing tariff pressures with minimum annual revenue of $1 million, across all sectors. Regional development agencies will assess applications based on program criteria, demonstrated need, and the business’s proposed response to tariff impacts.
Businesses in all tariff-impacted sectors may be eligible for RTRI support and are encouraged to apply.
