CFDCs Re-Open CANtrade™ Financing Solution for Tariff-Impacted Businesses
COBOURG, ON—Wednesday, September 2nd, 2026—Nventure (Northumberland), Trenval (Quinte), Renfrew, Peterborough, and North & Central Hastings & South Algonquin are re-launching their popular CANtrade™ lending initiative once again to support rural SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) impacted by the ongoing bilateral trade conflict.
“CANtrade™ is a tool in the Community Futures toolkit which we developed to assist businesses in navigating extraordinary challenges as they invest and re-invest in productivity, competitiveness and growth,” said Wendy Curtis, CEO of Nventure. “Whether that is local, regional, or global in outlook, CANtrade™ is designed to re-enforce rural companies that are thinking strategically and planning for long-term resilience.”
Through CANtrade™, qualifying businesses located and operating in Northumberland (and through fellow CFDCs, in their respective rural catchments) can access financing from $5,000 to $150,000, with rates ranging from prime to prime +2%, repayment terms of up to 60 months, and interest-only payments for the first six months. There are no pre-payment penalties for CANtrade™ loans.
CANtrade™ financing can support a range of business priorities, including: increasing production capacity, strengthening supply chains, improving operational efficiencies, investing in technology and talent, expanding into new Canadian or international markets and diversifying revenue streams.
The CANtrade™ initiative is delivered through the Community Futures Program, supported by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario). It is intended for viable, established businesses ready to make strategic investments in their future.
Since its original launch, fellow eastern Ontario CFDCs, working together with Nventure, have brought CANtrade™ to the table for their communities as well, through a collaborative regional approach that will continue to evolve dynamically with changing cross-border and global macro-economic conditions.
Interested industrial and export-oriented SMEs and all tariff-impacted businesses are encouraged to contact their local CFDC and submit an application to access capital via CANtrade™ through the Government of Canada’s Community Futures Program. This latest round of CANtrade™ is now open for applications and until the deadline of January 31st, 2027.
Quick Links
Learn more and apply today through participating CFDCs:
Additional terms and conditions apply, see websites for details.
Quotes
“When cross-border trade shifts by the day, finding a path forward can be challenging. CANtrade™ can help businesses in our communities find the support they need to navigate this new reality.”
Mary Lynn Rutledge, Executive Director
Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin
“Local businesses have shown incredible resilience in the face of ongoing economic uncertainty, but resilience alone should not be the expectation. Businesses also need access to the tools and capital that allow them to adapt, invest and seize new opportunities. CANtrade™ is designed to help businesses strengthen their operations, respond to changing supply chains and trade conditions, and position themselves for long-term growth. We’re proud to join our colleagues at Nventure and across eastern Ontario to ensure that local businesses have access to practical support that helps them move forward with confidence.”
Devon Girard, Executive Director
Community Futures Peterborough
“U.S. tariffs are creating new pressures for businesses here at home, and responding to those challenges requires action. We’re happy to re-launch CANtrade™ to give Bay of Quinte businesses greater flexibility to adapt, invest and pursue new opportunities. Supporting their resilience today helps protect the long-term economic strength of our region.”
Graham Copestake, Executive Director
Trenval Community Futures
“In a period of ongoing trade uncertainty, businesses need access to flexible financing that supports adaptation, growth, and long-term competitiveness. CANtrade™ gives Renfrew County businesses the opportunity to invest in productivity, strengthen operations, explore new markets, and build resilience for the future. We’re proud to partner with fellow CFDCs to deliver a solution that helps rural businesses respond proactively to changing economic conditions.”
Cyndy Phillips, Executive Director
Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation
About Nventure
Nventure is based at Venture13 Innovation Centre and focused on delivering financing and strategy for entrepreneurs. Nventure drives economic advancement by investing in industry and entrepreneur-led growth in Northumberland as well as at the regional and national level. Current initiatives include the Community Futures Program, the DELIA Women Entrepreneurship Loan Fund, StrikeUP Canada, Vfactory and the V13 Policetech Accelerator. These programs are supported by the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED Canada) and the Province of Ontario.
Visit us and learn more at: nventure.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Daniela Scoppa
Marketing and Communications Manager
Nventure
905-375-4384
dscoppa@nventure.ca
