Alison Evans and Chris Fritz have entered their new ceramics business in a contest being offered by FedEx Corp. The global shipping company will award grants, valued at from $5,000 to the grand prize of $25,000, to 10 small businesses.

The contest rules state that eligible entrants are “independent owners/operators of a for-profit small business that is domiciled in the fifty (50) United States or District of Columbia.”

The business must have been in continuous operation for not less than six months.

Evans’ and Fritz’s new showplace and studio, Ae Home, opened at 93 Townsend Avenue in Boothbay Harbor in mid-January.

Evans designs and sculpts ceramic dinnerware vessels inspired by natural shapes and colors from the gulf of Maine. Her plates, bowls, teapots, cups and platters, each piece individually hand molded and glazed, are works of art.

The couple also has a shop in Yarmouth, the Alison Evans Ceramics Studio, and their pottery is sold in retail stores throughout the United States and overseas.

Evans said she got in her application for the grant at zero hour.

“It was due yesterday, and I got it done yesterday,” she said.

She said that was the hard part.

Entrants were asked for a description of their business, such as what they sell and the services they offer; what inspired them to get into the business and and what difference it makes on the community. They were also asked how they would use the grant money to make a “significant impact” on the business.

She was notified that her business was in the running Feb. 13. The next step is the voting.

“People can vote every day,” she said. “If I get enough votes it will put me into the top 100 businesses in the contest.”

From there, FedEx will look at those businesses and they’ll decide on the final 10 winners.

“We need to get our name out there and get people to vote for us as much as possible,” Evans said.

To vote, you must be 18 years or older and have a Facebook, Twitter or Instagram account. People are invited to vote once daily on each social media platform that they have an account with.

Evans said she thinks there will be another phase of questions for the 100 finalists. “After that they’ll decide who will make the final cut.”

Though it’s not a requirement to enter the contest, she said that she and Fritz do 99 percent of their shipping through FedEx.

Voting will be open until March 17. People can vote daily on the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest website.

The top 100 will be posted on the contest website on March 31. Finalists will be announced April 21.