BIDDEFORD — When deciding where to go in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Small Business Week, Walter Whitcomb, commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, said staff members gave him several choices.

Royal Rose in Biddeford jumped out for a number of reasons, said Whitcomb.

The owners of the company, which makes flavored syrups used in cocktails, are “exciting and have enthusiasm,” he said. “These are the key elements (needed) for your business to have a chance.”

In addition, said Whitcomb, “You hear a lot about the limitations of Maine,” but Royal Rose’s story is about the opportunities for small businesses in Maine, he said.

The company was founded in a kitchen in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 2010.

In order to expand, the business owners Emily Butters and Forrest Butler moved their company to Biddeford last year.

Their syrups can be found around the country, thanks to striking a deal with Williams-Sonoma last year, as well as other distributors. They can also be found locally.

Royal Rose syrups are carried by the boutique LACAVA in Biddeford and used by Elements: Books Coffee Beer, also in Biddeford.

Butters said staff with the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry have been extremely helpful in assisting them with their business.

In addition, those at the food science department at the University of Maine, which partners with the state agriculture department, have also assisted the company in developing production processes to ensure the syrups are safe for consumers, she said.

Small businesses, which have less than 500 employees, are important players in Maine’s economy, said Whitcomb. According to the latest figures from the Small Business administration, 97 percent of Maine businesses are classified as small businesses.

In 2012, 95 percent of the businesses in the state employed 50 or fewer employees, according to the Maine Department of Labor, and small business also account for 59 percent of jobs and 63 percent of wages in Maine, according to the Maine Department of Labor.

Whitcomb stopped at two other small businesses in York County during his visit. One stop was Cape Seafood, a seafood processor located in Saco’s industrial park. The company plans to process more than four million pounds of Maine seafood this year, said John Bott, spokesman for the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

The company uses innovative technology to ship directly to restaurants, which increases food safety and freshness, he said. The company was founded to support Luke’s Lobster, a chain of restaurants outside    of Maine.

Also on the tour was Acorn Kitchen, said Bott, a food incubator, where people can rent space to create and package food products. The visit to the Kittery facility highlights the department’s support of small business startups, he said.

Whitcomb also visited Cozy Acres Greenhouses in North Yarmouth.

In addition to Whitcomb, other commissioners taking part in the Small Business Week celebration included Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner George Gervais, Department of Labor Commissioner Jeanne Paquette and Department of Marine Resources Commissioner Patrick Keliher.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or [email protected].