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St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

St. John’s businesses hit by tariffs can apply for up to $3 million in federal funding that never has to be paid back, through ACOA. We find the programs, write the application and arrange business loans when you need capital sooner.

The St. John’s economy

Why St. John’s businesses are feeling tariffs.

Freshly caught cod

St. John’s is the economic centre of Newfoundland and Labrador, with ocean industries, seafood, offshore energy and a growing technology sector.

When customers south of the border delay orders, or the price of steel, aluminum and imported components jumps, the pressure lands on payroll and cash flow first. That is exactly the gap federal tariff relief was designed to fill.

Industries we work with in St. John’s

  • Seafood and fisheries
  • Offshore energy
  • Ocean technology
  • Shipping

We work with St. John’s owners by phone and video, so there is no need to travel. You tell us how tariffs have affected the business, and we map every federal, provincial and municipal program you could qualify for.

Your agency: ACOAAtlantic Canada Opportunities Agency delivers the Regional Tariff Response Initiative in Atlantic Canada. We prepare your file to its requirements so your application is complete from day one.

Programs

Funding available to St. John’s businesses.

Grants that never have to be repaid come first. Provincial programs and business loans fill the gaps.

A St. John’s example

What a grant plan could look like for a St. John’s ocean tech firm.

An illustrative example of how the programs above can stack for one St. John’s business. It is not a specific client. Your own numbers decide what you qualify for.

The business

Marine sensor and monitoring equipment maker

Employees
40
Annual revenue
$10M
Sales to the U.S.
50%

Why it qualifies

  • Incorporated in Canada
  • Over $1 million in annual revenue
  • Operating before March 21, 2025
  • A tariff impact it can document

The tariff hit

U.S. research and offshore buyers paused sensor orders, and imported electronics cost more. The engineering team kept building while sales slowed to a crawl.

The funding plan

$990Kin funding that never has to be repaid

  1. Grant

    Liquidity assistance

    Half of payroll and lab rent for six months.

    $440,000
  2. Grant

    Pivot project

    Half the cost of redesigning the product for the European offshore market.

    $550,000
  3. Province

    Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports

    Provincial help for ocean technology exporters.

    Applied for alongside
  4. Loan

    Bridge financing

    Carries certification and sample costs before the grant is paid.

    $200,000

Tariff relief grants in St. John’s are delivered by ACOA. We build the file to its requirements.

Map my own funding plan

Illustrative only. Grants cover up to 50% of eligible costs, and actual amounts depend on your costs, the agency’s review and program intake.

FAQ

Tariff relief in St. John’s: your questions.

Can businesses in St. John’s get tariff relief grants?

Yes. Incorporated businesses in St. John’s with at least $1 million in annual revenue that were operating before March 21, 2025 and can show a direct or indirect tariff impact can apply to the Regional Tariff Response Initiative. Up to $3 million is available per business in funding that does not need to be repaid.

Which agency handles tariff relief applications in St. John’s?

Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) delivers the Regional Tariff Response Initiative for businesses in Atlantic Canada, including St. John’s. We prepare your application to ACOA’s requirements.

Do I need to meet you in person?

No. We work with St. John’s owners by phone and video, and documents are shared securely online. Most files move from the first call to a submitted application without anyone needing to travel.

Do you also arrange business loans in St. John’s?

Yes. We arrange term loans, lines of credit, CSBFP loans and invoice factoring from $20K to $2M through more than 50 lending partners, which is useful when you need capital before a grant decision lands.

What does a St. John’s business need to show tariff impact?

Typically evidence such as lost or delayed U.S. orders, higher costs for steel, aluminum or imported inputs, supply chain disruption, or at least 25% of revenue from goods ultimately exported to the United States. We help you document it clearly.

Nearby

Also serving businesses near St. John’s.

Free eligibility check

See which tariff relief grants your business qualifies for.

Fill in one short form or give us a call. A grant specialist reviews your situation and walks you through the programs that fit, and how much you could receive.

  • No documents needed to start
  • Checking has no effect on your credit
  • Your information stays confidential
  • You speak with a real specialist

Start here

One short form. A specialist calls you back.

  1. 1
    Tell us what you needYour name, business and the best way to reach you.
  2. 2
    A specialist calls youWe walk through your options in plain language.
  3. 3
    We handle the paperworkApplications, documents and follow up, start to finish.
Check my eligibility Prefer to talk? Call us now437-525-4210

Open 7 days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM ET

Get in touch

Ready to see what you qualify for?

Send us your details and a grant specialist will call you back to walk through the tariff relief programs that fit your business. No obligation.

Prefer to talk? Call us437-525-4210
Open7 days a week, 7 AM to 7 PM ET

Send us your details

Takes about a minute. A specialist will call you back.

Your total sales in one year, before expenses.

What do you need help with?

Choose all that apply.