AUGUSTA —  Heidi V. Neal, owner of Loyal Biscuit Co. has been selected to receive the Small Business Person of the Year award for Maine.

"Passion and commitment are what make successful small businesses, and Heidi has shown both with Loyal Biscuit Co.," said Marilyn Geroux, SBA district director for Maine, in a news release: "The growth of Loyal Biscuit Co. over the past few years is truly astounding, and we could not be happier for Heidi."

Loyal Biscuit Co. started as a single store in Rockland in 2010. Since that time, the company has grown to 11 employees in four retail locations. In addition, Neal has two other pet related companies: "Tug ME Toys" which produces dog toys, and Fidelis Biscuit Co. which produces dog treats.

David Hill of the Small Business Development Center worked with Neal as she expanded her business and nominated her for this award. He said in the release: "Heidi proves the old adage that if you love what you're doing, you'll never have to work a day in your life. Her energy and enthusiasm in taking a small pet supply store and intelligently growing it into a major pet retailer in the Midcoast is simply phenomenal. And though it wasn't, she made it look easy."

Neal will be honored at an SBA reception on May 5 at the Augusta Country Club in Manchester.

Also being recognized at that time will be:

Kate McAleer, Bixby & Co. LLC, Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Maine

Paula and Stephen Farrar, Done Roving Yarns, Home-Based Business Champion for Maine and New England

Evan Carroll and Sasha Salzberg, BILD Architecture, Micro-Enterprise of the Year for Maine and New England

Carl (C.B.) Smith, Virtual Managed Solutions, LLC, Veteran Small Business Owner of the Year for Maine

Deborah Gustin, Pie Nana, Inc. d/b/a Irish Setter Pub, Woman Small BusinessOwner of the Year for Maine

Thomas Adams, Maine Coast Shellfish, LLC, Small Business Exporter of the Year for Maine

Jaimie Logan, Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, Financial Services Champion of the Year for Maine