Think - Business Resources

• Highlight your Business with Invest Renfrew County - Let us help shine a spotlight on your business. Fill out the form to have your business could be highlighted on social media and Invest Renfrew County web site.

• Sign up for the Invest Renfrew County Quarterly newsletter - Stay connected with Renfrew County’s business community by signing up for the Invest Renfrew County newsletter. Get the latest updates on funding opportunities, business resources, events, and success stories.

Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce

• As shifting tariffs and trade policies affect businesses across Canada the Upper Ottawa Valley Chamber of Commerce conducted a survey to understand local business concerns and challenges. Their Trade Matters Report highlights key findings and industry insights into the impact of these shifting trade dynamics.
• Stay on top of the tariff impacts by following the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s Trade Tracker tool.
• Click here for a complete timeline of tariff events.

Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation

• Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation (RCCFDC), is committed to supporting rural businesses. With offices in Pembroke and Renfrew, they offer one-on-one business advisory meetings, on-site visits to assess your specific needs, and financing solutions to help navigate uncertainty. Reach out today to speak with an advisor.
  

• The CANtrade Program was built to help businesses in Renfrew County take the next step, whether that means reaching new customers, increasing production or investigating in smart upgrades. CANtrade™ loans are available to qualifying ventures as part of the Community Futures Program in Renfrew County through October 31, 2025, or until all funds are deployed. The program is designed to support businesses investing in future growth and adaptability.

• Sign up for our Community Futures Connect Newsletter to stay informed on available programs, news, resources, funding opportunities and more.

Business Support Resources:

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)

• Support for Canadian businesses impacted by uncertainty around U.S. tariffs - Trade uncertainty with U.S. is a major challenge for entrepreneurs. BDC has always been there to help Canadian businesses during difficult times. Access advice from our experts, flexible financing and tools to help build your company’s resilience and make smart, considered decisions that will help you pivot and mitigate.

• BDC consultation services - Strengthen your business through trade optimization - Assessing your financial health and planning for resilience is crucial in today's fast-changing economy. BDC can help you navigate changing trade policies and rising costs while protecting your business’s profits. By staying proactive, you can safeguard your business for the future.

• Pivot to Grow Loan – Get up to $5 million to help you encounter the effects of tariffs on Canadian exports to the U.S. The Pivot and Grow loan can boost your cash flow and cover expenses, like purchasing equipment, as you adapt to a new economic reality.

• Minimize tariff impact on your business - The Business Development Bank of Canada offers resources to help your business adapt to changing tariffs. Explore tools and insights to adjust strategies, manage costs and stay competitive in domestic and global markets.

• How to Prepare your business for tariffs infographic - Weather the storm

Canadian Commercial Corporation

• Global Bid Finder– Access thousands of international government procurement opportunities in one place with the Global Bid Opportunity Finder, offered by the Canadian Commercial Corporation.

Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB)

• Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) response to the U.S. tariffs battle - The CFIB provides updates on the U.S.-Canada trade war, including recent tariff changes, their impact on Canadian businesses, and CFIB's advocacy efforts to support affected members.

Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC)

• Supplier Diversity Program – brings together LGBTQ+ certified businesses with corporations/organizations/government bodies looking to diversify supply chains and contribute to an inclusive Canadian economy
• Global Trade Program – supports and assists 2SLGBTQI+ businesses and entrepreneurs to identify growth sectors, facilitate cross-border partnerships, and help navigate the complexities of exporting into new regions

DMZ Canada Tech Directory

• The OH! Canada Tech Directory supports Canadian world-class talent and technology. Learn how to get your tech company listed here.

Export Development Canada (EDC)

• Looking to expand to new global markets - Export Development Canada (EDC) Export Help Hub is a business resource for companies looking to expand international to any markets. Their experts know what it takes to grow globally. Find the answers to all of the most important questions that Canadian companies ask—instantly and for free.
• Export Development Canada (EDC) Trade Impact Program - The EDC Trade Impact Program will facilitate an additional $5 billion over two years in support for eligible companies across a range of products to help you navigate economic challenges.

• Preparing your business for tariffs: A checklist for exporters - Navigating tariffs can be complex, but this handy checklist simplifies the process. Export Development Canada offers practical, step-by-step guidance to streamline your strategy and reduce risk.

• Export Development Canada (EDC) United States market intelligence hub - EDC insights and analysis on the business environment of Canada’s largest export market.

• Trade Expansion Lending Program (TELP) – Access more working capital from your financial institution by guaranteeing part of your loan or line of credit.

• Tariffs 101: What are tariffs and how do they impact international trade? – Learn more about why tariffs are put in place, how they work and who has to pay them.

Excellence in Manufacturing Consortium (EMC)

• Canada’s largest manufacturing consortium remains committed to keeping Canadian manufacturers informed about Canada / U.S. trade relations.
• Share your insights to help guide efforts to support the Canadian manufacturing supply chain.

Farm Credit Canada (FCC)

• Farm Credit Canada (FCC) provides financing and other services to Canada’s agricultural and agri-food sector. The Trade Disruption Customer Support Program is providing $1 billion in new lending to help alleviate financial challenges.

Government of Canada & Trade Commissioner Services

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Advance Payments Program is a federal loan guarantee program which provides agricultural producers with easy access to low-cost cash advances. The interest-free limit for 2025 has been set at $250,000.
• Canada's response to the U.S trade and border policies - The Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canadian interests. Learn how we are responding to U.S. tariffs and supporting Canadian businesses, and find a variety of resources to help.

• Government of Canada’s Remission Process for Retaliatory Tariffs - The Government has implemented a remission process for its retaliatory tariffs. Businesses can find more details on the remission framework, including the application process and eligibility criteria for relief by clicking the link above.

• Government of Canada Trade Commissioner Service - Trade Commissioner Service helps Canadian businesses grow with confidence by connecting them with our funding and support programs, international opportunities, and our network of trade commissioners in over 160 cities worldwide.

• Canada Tariff Finder - Quickly get tariff information for specific products and countries where Canada has a Free Trade Agreement. The Canada Tariff Finder tool is so intuitive, it gives tariff rates even without the HS code.

• Canada trade tariffs, sanctions, export and import controls - A hub for tariff information, Canada's sanctions list, and export and import controls that could affect Canadian traders.

• FedDev Ontario’s Regional Tariff Response Initiative for Businesses – supports businesses and sectors impacted by tariffs through projects that can be executed between March 2025 to March 2028 with a budget over $1 million to boost productivity, enhance competitiveness and reduce costs to mitigate tariff impacts and enable greater resiliency among Canadian businesses through more robust domestic supply chains, enhanced internal trade, market diversification and future-proofing operations. A portion of this funding will give priority to projects that support impacted businesses in the steel and automotive industries.

• Process for requesting remission of tariffs that apply on certain goods from the U.S. - The Government of Canada is outlining a framework and process for how it will consider remission requests for the tariffs on products from the United States (U.S.)
• List of products from the United States subject to 25 per cent tariffs - Effective March 4, 2025, the Government of Canada is imposing 25 per cent tariffs on $30 billion in goods imported from the United States (U.S.).
• Employment and Social Development Canada’s Work Sharing Program helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in the normal level of business activity that is beyond the control of the employer.
• Connect2Canada.com highlights the strong economic, security, and cultural relationship between Canada and the United States, particularly through trade, investment and border security.

• Exporting under the Canada United States Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) – Support for Canadian exporters faced with U.S. tariffs, including guidance on how to export duty-free under the CUSMA agreement.

• Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) – is providing automatic relief to businesses by deferring GST/HST and corporate tax payments and waiving interest on applicable balances from April 2 to June 30, 2025.

Government of Ontario

• 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.

• Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) issuing a further $2 billion rebate for safe employers to support businesses and help keep workers on the job, in addition to the previous $2 billion rebate distributed in March.
• Deferring taxes for six months, granting relief to businesses under Ontario’s 10 business-focused tax programs, including: Employer Health Tax, Insurance Premium Tax, Gasoline Tax, Fuel Tax, Mining Tax, Tobacco Tax, International Fuel Tax Agreement, Beer, Wine & Spirits Tax, the Retail Sales Tax on Insurance Contracts and Benefit Plans and the Race Tracks Tax.

Made In Canada

• if you are a Canadian company, click here to learn more about listing your business on the Made in Canada website.

National Research Council of Canada

• National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program

Ontario Made website

• If you are an Ontario-based manufacturer, click here to learn more about listing your business with Ontario Made.
• If you are an Ontario-based retailer, click here to learn more about listing your retail business with Ontario Made.

Start-up Canada

• Startup Canada Tariff Toolkit - The Startup Canada Tariff Toolkit is designed to aid entrepreneurs and support organizations in navigating the complexities of tariffs, and their impact on Canadian businesses. It provides a comprehensive collection of national and regional support, funding information, tariff regulations, strategies for mitigating risks, and further international expansion. This resource guide is being updated frequently and in real time.

Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

• Tourism Industry Association of Canada Tariff tip sheet

Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS)

• Free Workplace Safety & Prevention Services from WSIB - WSPS understands the concerns of Ontario businesses regarding the potential impacts of the tariffs and knows that health and safety may not be the first thing on your mind right now. If you run a WSIB-registered business in the agriculture, manufacturing or services sectors, you are automatically entitled to receive a suite of free health and safety services from WSPS.

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