POTSDAM – Artists and people ,wanting to open an arts-related business in Potsdam will be interested in two information meetings on the $100,000 Arts Micro-Enterprise and Incubator Project, both at 7 p.m., April 12 in the Community Room of the Potsdam Civic Center and April 24 in the Civic Center Board Room.

The Village of Potsdam received $100,000 to launch a demonstration project providing artists or people interested in starting an art-related business with a grant to help establish operations in the village.

The Arts Micro-Enterprise Project can provide start-up businesses having five or fewer employees including the owner with a grant between $5,000 and $35,000.

To qualify for grant financing, the business owner must complete a 10-week entrepreneurship training program offered by the St. Lawrence County Arts Council. After completion of the training and the preparation of a business plan, a start-up grant is possible.

Businesses must agree to locate in the village for five years and provide employment opportunities to low- and moderate-income community residents. If the business owner is of low to moderate income at the time of application, the requirement is satisfied.

The village Planning and Development Director Fred Hanss will provide interested businesses with a wide range of information about the project including applicant eligibility, the grant application process, eligible uses of grant funds, and the Arts Council training program.

The Arts Council and the village take applications starting May 31. They expect to start the grant-making process in October.

For more information about the meeting contact Fred Hanss, 265-1670 or Arts Council Executive Director Hilary Oak, 265-6860.