We Love Celebrating With You!
Ribbon cuttings are a complimentary benefit included with your Chamber membership. Scroll to the bottom for non-member options.
We are delighted to help your business celebrate with a ribbon cutting ceremony if your business has:
- Opened its doors in the last 12 months
- Celebrated a landmark anniversary
- Changed ownership or is under new management
- Moved to a new location
- Been remodeled or expanded at its present location
A ribbon cutting is a significant milestone, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be part of your special event. These ceremonies allow you to introduce your products or services to the public, build your customer base, and provide tours of your facility.
Starting a project? If you are preparing to begin construction on a new or existing facility, contact us to schedule a "work-in-progress" photo opportunity! Email us here!
Scheduling Your Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
To ensure a successful event and a great turnout, please schedule your ribbon cutting at least three weeks in advance. This allows ample planning time and encourages our invitees and the broader business community to join the celebration.
Important: Please contact the Chamber before finalizing your date and time to ensure it aligns with our master calendar.
While we make every effort to be flexible, ribbon cuttings are typically scheduled on Tuesdays or Thursdays at the following times:
-
Mid-day: Between 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
-
Afternoon: 3:00 PM or 3:30 PM
Please note: We do not schedule ribbon cuttings after 4:30 PM or on weekends. Our Ambassadors and Board members participate as representatives of their own businesses, and we respect their personal time. We recommend checking the Chamber events calendar or the community events calendar to avoid local conflicts.
What Does The Chamber Do?
We make the event all about your business! When you book with us, the Chamber:
- Invites the VIPs: We send calendar invitations to our Board of Directors, Ambassadors, local and state elected officials, and community dignitaries (approx. 65 invitations; attendance varies).
- Boosts Your Visibility: We list your event on our official website calendar and Facebook page.
- Provides the Gear: We bring the official giant blue scissors and ceremonial ribbon. ✂️
- Goes Live: We coordinate a Facebook LiveStream during the event for digital engagement.
- Market Your Success: We provide pre- and post-event promotion in our electronic newsletter, The Business Beat. Sign up for the newsletter HERE.
The Ribbon Cutting Agenda
Events typically follow this flow:
- Setup: Chamber staff arrive 15–20 minutes early to set up and brief the primary contact. One spokesperson will be mic’d for the LiveStream.
- The Lineup: Guests and Chamber members gather in front of your business or signage. You will need two people to hold the ribbon and one to cut!
- The LiveStream: We broadcast to the Chamber Facebook page for approximately 5–7 minutes.
- The Ceremony: Our Executive Director will welcome the audience, introduce your team, and share details about your business. You’ll have the floor for remarks!
- If the event is outdoors, you can opt for our Confetti Cannon to add some extra flair! (Special thanks to First Mid Bank & Trust, our Confetti Cannon Sponsor.)
Helpful Tips for a Great Event
-
Many Ask Us About Refreshments: Providing snacks or drinks is completely optional! It is certainly NOT required.
- Capture the Moment: We will tag your business in the official Live video. We encourage you to share those posts to your own social media channels; tag us to contribute to community awareness.
- Weather Permitting: If the forecast looks spotty, don’t worry—we can move the ceremony indoors or under a covered entryway to keep everyone dry.
Not A Chamber Member Yet?
No problem! We are happy to conduct ribbon cuttings for businesses that have not yet joined the Chamber for a flat fee of $75.
This service includes Chamber staff to facilitate the ceremony, the use of our giant scissors and ribbon, and a Facebook LiveStream. For non-member events, invitations are sent only to our Chamber volunteers.
Interested in joining? Email us to see how the benefits of full membership compare to the non-member fee!