Backgrounder: Government of Canada helping to strengthen industries and businesses in southern Alberta

The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI), delivered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) in the Prairie provinces, is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to defend Canadian jobs, industries, and supply chains from the impacts of tariffs. RTRI strengthens the competitiveness of impacted small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by helping them adopt innovative technologies to boost productivity and competitiveness and build more resilient supply chains. The RTRI application portal remains open for tariff affected businesses.

Today, PrairiesCan announced a total of $5,882,903 in RTRI investment for the following five projects in southern Alberta:

• Alberta Food Processors Association (AFPA) - $1,498,903
  Boost access to tailored expertise and advice in trade and productivity for tariff-impacted food and beverage businesses across Alberta. This project will help participants advance their industry knowledge as well as distribute funding directly to small- and medium-sized food and beverage businesses that are impacted by tariffs. Investment will also enable the AFPA to upgrade and enhance their co-packer portal, AB Food Connect, with new AI-powered technology and the introduction of new community engagement features to increase the number of users connecting to community kitchens and co-packing services in Alberta.

• Canadian Heritage Roasting Company - $384,000
  Strengthen supply chains for coffee beans that are sourced from farming cooperatives in South America and Asia before being roasted in Alberta to ensure the availability of high quality Canadian roasted coffee products. Investment will help Canadian Heritage Roasting Company, secure Canadian financing for bulk shipments, upgrade equipment for blending and grinding, and scale production of an instant coffee line.

• Columbia Seed Co. Ltd. & XPT Grain Inc. - $1,000,000
  Enhance production capacity by adding a second production line to meet market demand for high quality Canadian made plant-based food ingredients. This project will allow Columbia Seed Co. Ltd. to double production capacity and to enhance the quality of products. In addition to enabling Columbia Seed Co. Ltd. to access new markets, this project will stimulate regional business activity and create new employment opportunities in rural Alberta.

• Foresight Canada - $1,500,000
  Deliver tailored business support services to help late-stage small- and medium-sized cleantech businesses in the Prairie provinces overcome tariff impacts and expand into new markets. Participating businesses will have access to a collaborative network of cleantech innovators, investors and experts who will support businesses to export their Canadian made cleantech products to new markets.

• Mount Royal University - $1,500,000
  Launch the Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence to enhance the resiliency of small- and medium-sized Alberta businesses operating in the transportation and logistics sector. Through this centre, Mount Royal University will deliver support services to help businesses improve, market, develop and deliver innovative transportation and logistics solutions.

Related products

• News release: Government of Canada helping to strengthen industries and businesses in southern Alberta

Associated links

• Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
• Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) in the Prairie provinces
• Canada's response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods