Government funding your business might be leaving on the table.
We help Canadian small and medium businesses find, prioritize, and apply for government grants, loans, and incentives. Right now, tariff-response programs hold billions in available support, and much of it goes unclaimed because businesses never hear about it in time.
Why now: billions are on the table.
Regional Tariff Response Initiative
$3.45 billion nationally and accepting applications, with liquidity assistance of up to $2 million per business through FedDev Ontario.
BDC Pivot to Grow
A new $500 million stream. Loans up to $5 million, 0% interest for the first 12 months, open to March 2028. Repayable financing, not a grant.
EDC Trade Impact Program
Up to $5 billion in financing and insurance capacity, including a $700 million direct-financing envelope for small and medium exporters.
Ontario Together Trade Fund
Funding typically covers 10% to 20% of eligible costs, with up to 75% only for projects with exceptional Ontario benefits.
Figures as of September 2026. Check the official program pages before applying.
Timing update: the AMIC stream’s Round 8 intake is open until November 5, 2026, and Round 9 runs January 28 to April 27, 2027. If you have a capital project of $500,000 or more in the works, talk to us now so you are ready when the next intake opens.
Check your eligibility in about 2 minutes
Answer a few questions and see which programs fit, with plain-English explanations.
Your results are ready
Where should we send your funding shortlist?
Enter your details to reveal your personalized program matches, plus the 2026-2027 funding deadline calendar.
Your preliminary screen
Funding routes found
Routes to investigate
How to read this
Useful enough to start. Careful enough to trust.
This calculator applies only the screening facts available in the cited research. A “strong preliminary match” means your answers line up with every threshold this screen can test. It does not mean an agency has confirmed eligibility, reserved funds or approved an application.
Program terms can change between intakes. Treat all dollar figures as screening references and verify them on the official program page before client use.
Regional Tariff Response Initiative
Applicants must be incorporated for-profit businesses operating in southern Ontario, with at least $1 million in revenue in one of the last two fiscal years, viable operations before the tariffs, and material tariff impact. That impact may be shown through the 25% sales test or through demonstrated direct impact. figures as of September 2026, check the official page before applyingOfficial eligibility criteria · Official FAQs
BDC and EDC trade support
BDC Pivot to Grow offers up to $5 million per stream. The liquidity stream carries 0% interest for the first 12 months, and the program is open to March 31, 2028. EDC’s Trade Impact Program provides up to $5 billion in additional financing and insurance capacity, not grants. Its September 2026 expansion includes a $700 million direct financing envelope targeting SMEs. figures as of September 2026, check the official pages before applyingBDC program page · EDC tariff support
CanExport SMEs
CanExport SMEs offers a competitive 50% cost share up to $50,000 per project. Intake timing and available funding can change, so confirm the current status before committing project costs. figures as of September 2026, check the official page before applyingOfficial applicant guide
Other routes shown
FCC trade-disruption support is lending, not a grant. SR&ED is shown as a specialist-review route only because this screen does not calculate the credit or make a work-eligibility determination. The Biofuels Production Incentive is limited to qualifying domestic biodiesel and renewable diesel producers. figures as of September 2026, check the official pages before applyingOfficial FCC support page · Official SR&ED eligibility page · Official biofuel program source
How it works
- Check your eligibility (2 minutes). Answer a few questions online and see which programs fit your business, with estimated amounts and deadlines.
- Free 30-minute funding audit. A call with one of our partners: your top programs, estimated amounts, nearest deadlines, and clear next steps.
- Funding Readiness Audit ($495). The full roadmap: program matches, eligibility analysis, deadline calendar, documents checklist, application priority, and a funding-stacking strategy. Delivered in about 10 days.
- Application support. We prepare the applications with you, for an application fee plus a success fee that is only payable if funding is approved.
Free download: the 2026 Ontario Manufacturing Funding Playbook
The five tariff-response programs, the always-on incentives, common stacking traps, and a document checklist. Written by our partners from primary sources.
Download the playbook (PDF)Priced to be the easiest yes in the process
Our Funding Readiness Audit is $495 flat. A grant consultant billing $150 to $250 an hour would charge several times that for the same groundwork. And if you have us prepare your applications, the full $495 comes off that fee, so the audit effectively costs you nothing.
Application preparation carries a tiered success fee: 20% on the first $100,000 secured, 15% from $100,000 to $500,000, and 10% above $500,000. On $300,000 secured, for example, the fee is $50,000. You pay it only if funding is approved.
Who this is for
- Ontario manufacturers and exporters affected by US tariffs
- Businesses planning research and development, hiring, or expansion into new markets
- Any Canadian small or medium business that wants a clear picture of what funding it qualifies for
Who we are
OptiVal Advisory is led by qualified professionals with more than 75 years of combined experience. PwC-trained, with CFO-level experience at world-leading multinationals. Our offshore delivery team monitors programs and prepares the research. A partner handles every client call and signs off on every roadmap.
Common questions
Is the 30-minute audit really free?
Yes. We make five free 30-minute audits available each week. When the week’s slots are full, the next available week opens up. You get your top programs, estimated amounts, nearest deadlines, and next steps. The full roadmap and stacking strategy are part of the paid audit.
Do you write the applications?
Yes. Application preparation is a separate engagement after the audit, with a success fee payable only if funding is approved.
Can you guarantee we will get funding?
No, and you should be wary of anyone who does. Many programs are competitive. What we guarantee is a thorough, honest assessment of where you stand and the strongest applications we can put together.
We already have an accountant. Why do we need this?
Most accountants do not track dozens of funding programs, deadlines and intake windows. Funding monitoring is a dedicated part of our advisory work, so we continuously track programs, deadlines and intake windows that a general accounting practice may not follow day to day.
Request your free funding audit
We make five free 30-minute audits available each week. When the week’s slots are full, the next available week opens up.
Start with the free calculator or request your free audit today. Email us any time at info@opti-val.ca.