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RENFREW COUNTY CFDC UPDATES

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Adapting to new trade realities? CANtrade™ can help.

CANtrade™ has helped local businesses like Saturday Morning Books + Analog invest in Canadian supply chains, expand into new markets, and increase production.

This limited-time program offers repayable financing to help rural businesses in Renfrew County respond to today's evolving trade landscape and position themselves for long-term growth, whether that means new equipment, new suppliers, or new customers.

𝐋𝐨𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:

✔️ Interest-only payments for the first 6 months

✔️ Interest rates from prime to prime +2%

✔️ No prepayment penalties

✔️ Loans from $5,000–$150,000

✔️ Repayment terms up to 60 months

Learn more & Apply

CANtrade™ is delivered through the national Community Futures Program, funded by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario

Celebrating Small Business Month: Bridges to Business Empowerment

Bridges to Business Empowerment helps business owners adapt to rising costs, workforce challenges, and rapid change. Four events across the region in October feature expert keynotes, practical strategies, and networking with other entrepreneurs.

Ticket fees may be tax deductible as a business expense.

All events run 8:30 am to 12:00 pm and include breakfast ($30+HST).

Register Here

Register Here

RESOURCE CORNER

Regional Tariff Response Initiative

The Government of Canada has expanded the Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) to support businesses affected by tariffs, including through the provision of support to address liquidity pressures. This expansion helps businesses respond to tariff-related impacts and strengthen supply chain resilience.

Learn More 

Ontario Together Trade Fund

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. With a focus on small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the program will help businesses, build local capacity, enhance trade resiliency, and make the necessary investments to successfully expand into new markets.

Learn more here. 

OTF Grow Grant Now Open 

Non-profit organizations, municipalities and First Nations, with a proven program ready to scale, can apply for up to $200,000 annually for 2 or 3 years to expand, improve, or adapt their programs or services. Projects should be focused on one of four sectors: sports and recreation, arts and culture, environment, and human and social services. The grant application period closes on November 4, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. ET.

Learn more here. 

Ontario Job Grant

Need to upskill your team? The Ontario Job Grant covers up to $10,000 per trainee for third-party training. Employers with fewer than 100 employees pay as little as one-sixth of the cost, and training a previously unemployed new hire can be fully covered, up to $15,000. Open to businesses and non-profits, with applications accepted year-round.

Learn more here. 

Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund

Ontario's Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund supports repairs and upgrades to existing sport and recreation facilities, as well as new builds. Municipalities, Indigenous communities and non-profits can apply to both streams; for-profit organizations can apply for new builds only. The deadline is December 22, 2026, at 4 p.m. ET.

Learn more here

Canada Summer Jobs 2027- Open Oct 27

Planning to hire a student next summer? Applications for Canada Summer Jobs 2027 open October 27 at 9 a.m. ET. The program covers up to 100% of minimum wage for non-profits, and up to 50% for public-sector employers and businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees, to hire youth aged 15 to 30. Get a head start: set up your Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) account and start planning your positions now.

Learn more here. 

EVENTS & PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS

Nominate a Volunteer

The government of Ontario is accepting nominations for two volunteer recognition programs:

• Ontario Volunteer Service Awards – Organizations can nominate up to nine volunteers: up to six adults with 5 to 65 years of continuous service, and up to three youth 24 and under with two or more years. Deadline: November 15, 2026.
• June Callwood Outstanding Achievement Award for Voluntarism – Recognizes individuals and groups for exceptional dedication to volunteering. Deadline: December 15, 2026.

Nominations must be submitted online through the Ontario Honours and Awards Portal.

Learn more here 

Workshops for French-speaking Entrepreneurs

The Fédération des gens d'affaires francophones de l'Ontario (FGA) is offering free French-language workshops this October on launching a business, leadership, competition law, competitive advantage, the defence market, and selling or transferring a business.

See the schedule and register: fedefranco.ca/evenements