What is Strategic Response Fund (SRF) — Tariff Relief?
Strategic Response Fund (SRF) — Tariff Relief is delivered by ISED as a contribution. Funding is typically canada Strong Diversification Fund ($2B SRF stream): focus on projects over $20M with federal asks of $10M+; Stream 2 capital maintenance $5M to $30M non-repayable. This page covers eligibility, intake status, and what an application actually requires.
At a glance
| Funding amount | Canada Strong Diversification Fund ($2B SRF stream): focus on projects over $20M with federal asks of $10M+; Stream 2 capital maintenance $5M to $30M non-repayable |
|---|---|
| Cost share | 50% |
| Level | Federal |
| Program type | Contribution |
| Delivered by | ISED |
| Available in | All provinces |
| Intake status | Open - new Canada Strong Diversification Fund stream effective immediately (Aug 25, 2026) |
| Last verified | 2026-10-05 |
Who qualifies
- Eligible industries: Manufacturing, export-reliant sectors
- Employee count: min 10, max 500
- Eligible activities: Diversifying markets, reshoring, supply chain pivots due to US tariffs
Watch out for
Project under $20M or federal ask under $10M (Stream 1 focus); Stream 2: under 10 FTE, under $20M revenue, under $5M average annual capital spending, sector not hit by s.338 tariffs. SMBs below these sizes should use RTRI or BDC Pivot to Grow.
Deadlines & how to apply
Canada Strong Diversification Fund (created Aug 25, 2026) is open, continuous intake, first-come first-served, administered by ISED with RDA triage. Stream 1 (adapt, pivot, diversify, including SMEs) goes through the SRF eligibility check and consultation. Stream 2 (capital maintenance for s.338 tariff sectors): min 10 FTE, min $20M annual revenue, min $5M average annual capital spending over the last 3 fiscal years, $5M to $30M non-repayable for up to 2 years; priority sectors include wood and paper, plastics, machinery, electrical equipment, furniture, chemicals, food and beverage, textiles. Submit an expression of interest.
How NorthGrants helps with Strategic Response Fund (SRF) — Tariff Relief
Most business owners read about Strategic Response Fund (SRF) — Tariff Relief, see the funding amount, and stop. The hard part isn't finding the grant. It's building a complete application that answers what the program asks for.
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.