Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant Program (Australia)

Grants are available to support Small Businesses and Not-for-Profit Organisations that have experienced a material reduction in revenue as a result of the impact arising from the Algal Bloom event.

The Department of State Development (DSD), working in collaboration with the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF), will administer the ABSBSG program.

Categories

• The Algal Bloom Small Business Support Grant is designed to support small businesses and not-for-profit organisations that fit into the following categories:
  • marine or coastal tourism operator(excluding hospitality and food services)
  • charter boat and fishing charter operator
  • marine-based sport and/or school (e.g. surf school)
  • commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holder
  • seafood processor
  • marine and fishing supply chain manufacturer or retailer (e.g. tackle shops, marine equipment suppliers)
  • marine or coastal caravan parks, camping grounds and other accommodation providers (excluding short-term private/holiday rental providers, e.g. private properties rented through real estate agents or booking sites such as Airbnb or Stayz).
  • beachfront kiosk/cafes.

Funding Information

• The available grant amount is $10,000 (excluding applicable GST). The grant is a voluntary payment by the State Government to assist parties impacted by the Algal Bloom event. Only one application for a grant can be submitted per Australian Business Number (ABN).

How may the funding be used?

• Financial assistance is provided to eligible Small Businesses and Not-for-Profit Organisations that have experienced a material reduction in revenue as a result of the impacts arising from the Algal Bloom event, who may use the grant for any of the following (without limitation) to support the continued viability of their business:
  • meeting standing business costs, including utilities, salaries and rent;
  • seeking financial advice to support the ongoing operations of the business;
  • adjusting the business to be viable in the changed operating environment;
  • increasing business resilience;
  • developing the business and extending business reach through marketing and communications activities; and
  • retaining, staying connected to, and supporting existing employees.

Eligibility Criteria

• To be eligible for the grant, the applicant must:
  • be a legal entity established in Australia (a sole trader, company, partnership or trustee of a trust). Incorporated entities must be incorporated in Australia;
  • be a South Australian Entity (including both businesses and not-for-profit organisations);
  • hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) as at 1 January 2025; for businesses other than commercial fisheries and aquaculture licence holders:
    • be registered for GST at the time this package was announced (22 July 2025) Note: not-for-profit organisations with annual business turnover between $75,000 and $149,999.99 in 2024-25 are able to apply if not registered for GST]; and
    • demonstrate minimum business turnover of $18,750 in the three (3) month comparative period
  • have an Australia-wide grouped payroll of less than $1.5 million in 2024-25 [Note: the information you provide with your application will be verified against information held by Revenue SA];
  • demonstrate, as a direct result of the Algal Bloom event, a decline in business turnover of thirty percent (30%) or more in any consecutive three (3) month period from 1 April 2025 to 31 July 2025, compared to the corresponding three (3) month period in the year prior (the ‘comparative period’);
  • be primarily categorised in one or more of the impacted marine industry categories; and
  • not be an excluded entity.
• To be considered as part of the application process, and as an essential criterion, applicants are also required to describe, to the satisfaction of DSD and DTF, how their business has been negatively impacted by the Algal Bloom event. The Treasurer, or their delegate, may decline an application in the event a clear linkage is not demonstrated to their satisfaction.
• New businesses that were not in operation during any comparative period may be eligible for assistance should they be able to:
  • demonstrate that business turnover has declined over another period of operation, not less than three (3) months, by thirty percent (30%) or more, as a direct result of the Algal Bloom event to the satisfaction of the Treasurer, or their delegate. Evidence could include average monthly trading activity, comparisons against projections, volumes of products produced/sold; and
  • demonstrate business turnover of at least $18,750 across any three (3) month period since commencing/taking over operations.

For more information, visit DSD.