By Craig Anderson

SEAFORD — Thanks to state financial assistance, the owners of Coastal Key Lime Pie are aiming to double business.

To that end, a new crust machine will speed the creation of their key lime pies, plus a lime green refrigerated truck will keep them cold during deliveries.

Those are the plans of the husband-and-wife duo of Jessica and Lee Williamson, who recently received a $50,000 Encouraging Development, Growth and Expansion grant from the Delaware Division of Small Business.

Coastal Key Lime Pie and nine other small companies were recipients, pared down from 120 applicants.

Ms. Williamson said the crust machine will allow Coastal to produce up to 400 pies weekly, an increase from the 150-200 it bakes for 15 retailers currently.

She added that she believes the grant “will have a tremendous impact on what we can do” and that buying the refrigerated truck wouldn’t be affordable without it.

The Williamsons launched their enterprise in February 2023 at sales events and opened a commercial kitchen in January of this year.

Ms. Williamson said she is proud of their product, describing the pies as “a perfect balance between sweet and tart. It’s not a super sugary type of dessert. It’s refreshing.”

She continued, “A lot of our customers say it’s great for the summertime. We have a unique recipe because we’ve worked for about two years to perfect (it), and we get so much feedback from our customers that it’s the best key lime pie that they have ever tasted.

“We’re just trying to meet that demand. I think you kind of get that beach vibe from it. It’s the perfect dessert for the beachgoers, the vacationers.”

All the EDGE winners were recognized at a ceremony at Kent County Levy Court in Dover on May 23.

A Division of Small Business news release announcing the grantees noted that Coastal Key Lime Pie’s owners “sell their custom key lime pies at local farmers markets, pop-up events, and two retail partners in Lewes and Rehoboth Beach.”

“The EDGE funding will help them expand their business. They plan to use it for a refrigerated vehicle to ensure large orders of key lime pies maintain their proper temperature during transportation, a pie crumb former to increase the daily production of pies, and advertising.”

For information, visit coastalkeylimepie.com, call or text 302-727-8868 or email hello@coastalkeylimepie.com.

To be eligible for EDGE grants, businesses must be less than seven years old and employ no more than 10 full-time workers (or equivalents).

The application period for the next round will open in August. Information is available at delawaresbdc.org.