BDC Pivot to Grow Loan

The BDC Tariff Loan Facility (officially branded "Pivot to Grow") is a federally backed loan program for Canadian SMEs whose business has been disrupted by US tariffs. The loan rate is BDC base minus 2%, with a 12-month interest-only period. Unlike a grant, this is repayable financing, but the terms are materially better than commercial debt for tariff-affected businesses.

Common questions

Do I need to be losing money to qualify?

No. You need to demonstrate material exposure to US tariffs (typically 25%+ of revenue from US markets) and a viable plan to pivot, diversify, or absorb the impact. Cash-flow stress is a qualifying signal, not a requirement.

How does this stack with grants?

BDC financing is debt, not a grant, so it doesn't conflict with grant funding. Many businesses use the Tariff Loan Facility for working-capital bridge while applying for non-repayable programs like CanExport (for market diversification) or NRC IRAP (for tariff-driven product pivots).

What documents does BDC need?

Two years of financial statements, current cash-flow forecast, evidence of US tariff exposure (customer breakdown by geography), and a written pivot or diversification plan. NorthGrants builds the pivot-plan narrative as part of the application framework.

Get my free personalized grant report →

2 minutes · no credit card · matches you to grants you actually qualify for

What is BDC Pivot to Grow Loan?

BDC Pivot to Grow Loan is delivered by Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) as a loan. Funding is typically up to $2,000,000. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.

At a glance

Funding amount	Up to $2,000,000
Cost share	N/A (loan)
Level	Federal
Program type	Loan
Delivered by	Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC)
Available in	All provinces
Intake status	Open — rolling
Last verified	May 2026

Who qualifies

Eligible industries: All tariff-impacted sectors
Eligible activities: Working capital, supply chain adjustment, market diversification, equipment & inventory in response to U.S. tariff impacts

Watch out for

Annual sales under $2M; less than 25% U.S. export exposure AND no demonstrable tariff impact; no credible adjustment plan; not currently profitable / negative cash flow

Deadlines & how to apply

Renamed in 2025–2026 from BDC Tariff Loan Facility. Interest rate is BDC base rate minus 2%. 12-month interest-only period to ease cash flow. Also includes advisory services for finding new suppliers and buyers. Apply via BDC website, email, phone (1-877-232-2269), or chat.

View official program page →

How NorthGrants helps with BDC Pivot to Grow Loan

Most business owners read about BDC Pivot to Grow Loan, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building an application that actually wins.

NorthGrants builds the full application framework for you: a tailored project narrative aligned to this program's evaluation criteria, a budget structure that maps to eligible costs, and the supporting documentation checklist. You review it, refine the parts only you can write, and submit.