Spirit Preparedness Fund for Businesses

The Spirit Preparedness Fund for Businesses aims to respond to visitor demand and improve the visitor experience in anticipation of the arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania ships.

Businesses can apply for a grant to create authentic Tasmanian experiences which respond to core and emerging visitor demand and directly contribute to our visitor economy.

Grants of between $50,000 and $250,000 (excluding GST) are available.

This program will be open for applications until 2pm on Tuesday 20 May 2025.

Before proceeding with the application, please ensure that you meet all eligibility criteria in the Program Guidelines.

For any queries about the eligibility criteria, contact State Growth by calling 1800 440 026 or emailing tourism&hospitality@stategrowth.tas.gov.au.

To be eligible for a grant you must meet the following eligibility criteria:

1. You must be able to complete your project by 31 December 2027.
2. You must demonstrate you can make a cash contribution at least equal to the grant amount requested.
3. You must be registered for Goods and Services Tax (GST) and have a continuously active Australian Business Number (ABN) registered on or before 30 June 2024.
4. Exceptions to 3 (with supporting documentation) may be considered, for example:
   • You have purchased a business that was actively trading for at least 12 months before 30 June 2024.
   • You have changed your business structure which has resulted in a new active ABN issued after 30 June 2024, but the business has been in operation for at least 12 months at the time of application.
5. You must be currently operating and physically located in Tasmania.

You will not be eligible for this program if any of the following apply to you:

1. Your application is for a project which already has financial support (including loans) from the Australian or Tasmanian Governments.
2. You received a grant for any project through the Tasmanian Government’s Tourism Innovation Grant Program.
3. You are a local, state, or federal government body, government agency or government business enterprise.
4. You are a public company as defined in the Corporations Act 2001.
5. You are an unincorporated association.
6. You are an investment entity that solely generates passive turnover from residential and commercial property investment and/or the renting of property.
7. Your business is for sale, trading while insolvent, under external administration or bankrupt at the time of submitting an application.
8. You have made more than one application under the same ABN.
9. You are a third party submitting an application on behalf of a business owner.