6 Edmonton-area businesses to get federal funding to lessen tariff impacts

Edmonton Centre MP and PrairiesCan minister Eleanor Olszewski at Flexxaire in Edmonton to announce $8.4 million in federal funding for local businesses on April 17, 2026. (Sean McClune/CTV News Edmonton)

Six more businesses in Edmonton and surrounding areas are getting federal dollars to alleviate tariff-related trade uncertainty.

The Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) is putting a cumulative $8.4 million toward each small-and medium-sized company project.

The largest chunk of cash, about $3.4 million, will go to Flexxaire, which manufactures industrial fans for sectors including agriculture, construction, forestry and mining.

That money will come in two phases: $1 million to advance automation and in-house manufacturing, and $2.4 million in repayable dollars to expand production systems, add technical staff and increase automation, all at the company’s Edmonton-based manufacturing plant.

“(The government’s) support is helping us move faster on critical automation and manufacturing upgrades here in Edmonton,” said Flexxaire CEO Jon McCallum at a press conference Friday.

“We want to move to a 24/5 operating model, where production continues after the day shift ends and automated systems run through the night, making parts totally unmanned.”

Whitemud Ironworks and Weldco-Beales, both steel fabricators in Edmonton, will each receive $1 million. Whitemud Ironworks will get new equipment to increase steel processing capacity while Weldco-Beales will update its automation and welding processes to increase production.

“These are not just upgrades. They are critical investments that will help us stay competitive in a rapidly evolving global market. Importantly, this funding will also support jobs, creating opportunities for our current team to develop new skills,” said Weldco-Beales president Chris Goodwin.

Another $1 million will go to Armtec’s Redwater facility to help manufacture steel pipe products at remote sites, which would reduce transportation and delivery times.

Akash Homes, an Edmonton construction company, will use $1 million to incorporate artificial intelligence in its creation of a business operations team to better co-ordinate homebuilding projects.

Alta-Fab Structures, which predominantly makes modular buildings, will receive $1 million to revamp its Nisku facility.

The RTRI funding is delivered by Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan), the federal department focused on economic development in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

“I hear a lot from Edmonton businesses and leaders about the challenges they’re facing, navigating a more uncertain global economy, tariff pressures and trade disruptions … (RTRI) is a tool that businesses can use to help explore new market opportunities, adopt innovative technologies to boost productivity and strengthen their supply chain,” said Eleanor Olszewski, Edmonton Centre MP and federal minister responsible for PrairiesCan.

PrairiesCan accepts applications from eligible businesses in those provinces and distributes funding accordingly.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Sean McClune