Prescott Economic Development has access to business & market data through partnerships with leading providers, and can provide custom analysis to businesses. This data can help you identify potential new or emerging markets, and identify opportunities for local or regional growth.

Contact us to learn more. 

Community Futures Grenville offers free one-on-one business advice to support entrepreneurs at any stage. Whether you need guidance on a new idea or a fresh perspective on your current operations, they're available to help.

Connect with their Business Advisor, Darren, for a casual conversation or to schedule an appointment.

Click here to contact Darren at CF Grenville and learn more: Business Advice

Leeds Grenville Small Business offers a variety of services to support small business owners, including expert advice on business planning and funding, access to valuable resources, and a platform for connecting with government and private sector programs. They also host workshops, events, and training programs to help business owners grow and succeed. For more information, visit their website.

BDC experts can address your business challenges and equip you with the knowledge, know-how and tools to manage every function of your business with confidence.

South Grenville Chamber of Commerce

The South Grenville Chamber of Commerce supports businesses in the South Grenville region by offering networking opportunities, resources, and advocacy. Their goal is to foster a strong, vibrant business community in Prescott, Augusta, and Edwardsburgh/Cardinal. For more information, visit South Grenville Chamber of Commerce.

Downtown Prescott Business Improvement Area

The Downtown Prescott BIA supports local businesses by offering resources, programs, and initiatives to help them grow and thrive. From promotional opportunities to community events and business development support, the BIA is dedicated to fostering a vibrant downtown. For more information, visit Downtown Prescott BIA.

Community Futures Grenville offers tailored business loans to help businesses in Grenville County, including Prescott, manage operational costs, purchase equipment, and improve cash flow. These loans can be used for a variety of business needs, including real estate financing and inventory financing. With flexible repayment terms, low-interest rates, and no prepayment penalties, the program supports both new and existing businesses in navigating financial challenges and expanding their operations. For more details, you can reach out to their Business Loans Officer.

Learn more at Community Futures Grenville.

The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Incentive Program offers financial support for businesses and property owners in Prescott to enhance downtown areas, employment lands, heritage properties, and brownfield sites. The program provides non-repayable grants, tax incentives, and interest-free loans for projects such as building renovations, accessibility improvements, and environmental remediation. It aims to stimulate local revitalization, increase housing availability, and boost economic growth.

For more details, visit the CIP Incentive Program page.

The $50-million Ontario Together Trade Fund helps Ontario businesses make near-term investments that strengthen trade resilience, expand into new markets, enhance productivity and reinforce domestic supply chains.

Eligible applicants must operate in Ontario and have at least three years of substantive operating experience supported by financial statements. Projects must be based in Ontario and serve business or consumer markets.

For most eligible businesses, support is provided through grants or loans equal to approximately 10 to 20 per cent of eligible project costs, up to a maximum of $5 million.

Program eligibility, funding amounts and application requirements are determined by the Government of Ontario.

Learn more about the Ontario Together Trade Fund

Federal Work-Sharing measures are available to help employers avoid layoffs when tariffs contribute to a temporary reduction in business activity. Tariff-related Work-Sharing special measures have been extended to March 31, 2028.

Employers with an approved and implemented Work-Sharing agreement may also qualify for the Worker Retention Grant. This temporary program supports training opportunities and provides additional income support to eligible employees working reduced hours. Applications are being accepted until December 31, 2027.

The Government of Canada has also announced a forthcoming Workforce Retention and Retraining Program. The new program will combine Work-Sharing and the Worker Retention Grant into a single program with additional flexibility and funding of up to $1,000 per participant for eligible training and administrative costs.

Learn more about Work-Sharing

Learn more about the Worker Retention Grant

The Eastern Ontario Development Fund supports business and community projects that create jobs, attract investment and contribute to economic growth in eastern Ontario.

The business stream assists established companies undertaking projects related to expansion, productivity, innovation, skills development and entry into new markets. Support is also available for eligible municipalities, economic development organizations and sector organizations undertaking regional economic development projects.

The current application period runs from June 30 to September 23, 2026. Businesses considering an application are encouraged to contact a regional advisor and register with Transfer Payment Ontario well before the deadline.

View EODF eligibility, funding and application information

BDC’s Pivot to Grow program provides financing to help eligible Canadian businesses manage tariff-related cash-flow pressures, maintain operations, invest in equipment, adapt supply chains and pursue new markets.

Available financing generally ranges from $250,000 to $5 million. Liquidity financing may include interest-only payments for up to 36 months.

General eligibility requirements include:

• Canadian-based operations.
• At least $1 million in annual revenue.
• At least three years in business.
• Historically positive cash flow.
• A demonstrated impact from U.S. tariffs, trade uncertainty or the current economic environment.

Additional requirements related to U.S. sales, tariff exposure and business resilience apply to individual financing streams. The program is available until March 31, 2028.

Explore BDC Pivot to Grow financing

Export Development Canada’s Trade Impact Program provides eligible Canadian exporters and their suppliers with expanded access to financing, working-capital support, trade credit insurance, foreign-exchange solutions and market-diversification assistance.

EDC has allocated $5 billion in additional capacity through the program. As of August 2026, approximately $3 billion had been provided to more than 800 Canadian companies.

The program was expanded effective September 1, 2026, including a $700-million direct-financing envelope and additional flexibility to support businesses affected by tariffs and changing global trade conditions.

Explore EDC’s Trade Impact Program

The Government of Canada has invested an additional $1.5 billion in the Regional Tariff Response Initiative, bringing the program’s total funding to $3.45 billion. The initiative helps tariff-affected businesses manage immediate financial pressures and undertake projects that support adaptation, growth and competitiveness.

In southern Ontario, the initiative is delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. Key enhancements include:

• Up to $3 million in non-repayable funding per eligible business, including up to $2 million in liquidity support.
• Expanded eligibility for businesses with at least $1 million in annual revenue that can demonstrate an impact from tariffs.
• Repayable funding for eligible projects that help businesses adapt, grow, diversify and compete.

Applications are open and may be submitted at any time. Funding will remain available until FedDev Ontario’s allocation is fully committed, and interested businesses are encouraged to apply early.

FedDev Ontario will also host virtual bilingual information sessions.

View eligibility, application guidelines and information-session details

The Canada Strong Diversification Fund is a new stream of the federal Strategic Response Fund supported by an additional $2 billion in funding.

The fund will support tariff-affected businesses with investment-ready projects, including projects related to capital maintenance, business adaptation, productivity and market diversification. It includes added flexibility for medium-sized businesses and a streamlined project review process.

Businesses should consult the Strategic Response Fund page for current eligibility and intake information.

Learn more about the Canada Strong Diversification Fund

The Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility provides financing to help large Canadian enterprises affected by tariffs maintain operations, protect jobs and manage periods of financial pressure.

Recent enhancements have increased available liquidity support from 24 to 36 months of a company’s liquidity needs and extended the maximum loan term from 10 to 15 years.

The facility is administered by the Canada Enterprise Emergency Funding Corporation.

Learn more about the Large Enterprise Tariff Loan facility

The Canada Tariff Finder helps Canadian businesses determine import and export tariffs for specific goods and markets, particularly in countries with Free Trade Agreements.

The tool displays standard tariff rates for all nations and highlights Canada's preferential rates under trade agreements, including any phased reductions.

Click here to learn more.

Effective September 8, 2026, Canadian counter-tariffs of 15, 25 and 50 per cent apply to selected products imported from the United States. The measures cover approximately $27.6 billion in imports, with the rate for each product matching the corresponding U.S. tariff.

Affected products include selected steel and aluminum products, furniture, clothing and apparel, appliances, dairy products, fish and seafood, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper products, and electronics. Existing Canadian counter-tariffs on products including automobiles also remain in place.

The new counter-tariffs apply only to goods originating in the United States. U.S. goods that were already in transit to Canada when the measures took effect are not subject to the new tariffs.

Businesses should review the official product list using the applicable tariff classification codes. Product descriptions alone may not be sufficient to determine whether a particular item is affected.

View the official product list and applicable tariff rates

Canada’s tariff-remission framework remains available for businesses seeking exceptional relief from tariffs applied to certain goods imported from the United States.

The Government of Canada may consider remission requests where:

• Goods used as business inputs cannot be sourced domestically or reasonably obtained from a non-U.S. supplier.
• Exceptional circumstances could create severe adverse effects on the Canadian economy.

Only companies registered in Canada may submit a remission request. Applicants must provide detailed information about the affected goods, applicable tariff classifications, sourcing alternatives, tariffs paid or expected, operational impacts and the exceptional circumstances supporting the request.

Remission is not automatic. Each request is assessed individually by the Department of Finance Canada in consultation with other federal departments and, where appropriate, affected Canadian producers.

Review the remission process and submission requirements

The Federal Trade Commissioner Service (TCS) helps Canadian exporters navigate challenges posed by U.S. tariffs. The service offers guidance on how tariffs affect businesses, identifies new market opportunities, and connects exporters with relevant contacts and resources. Additional support includes export diversification, funding, and strategic programs tailored to help businesses mitigate tariff impacts. To learn more, access frequently updated resources and tools on the TCS website.