Ribbon Cuttings: A Special Celebration of Your Business

The Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce is always eager to celebrate our members’ success and special events. A ribbon cutting event is a time to showcase what your business has to offer.  Ribbon cuttings are conducted at no cost by the Chamber and must meet the following criteria:

Your business must meet the following criteria:

• Be a member of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Grand opening of a new business
• Celebration of a milestone anniversary of business
• Changed ownership or under new management
• Moved to a new location or expansion/renovation of business
• Groundbreaking of business

From our experience, you can expect anywhere from 5 to 50 people in attendance. This depends on a number of factors, the most essential being the promotional efforts to invite your contacts to your special event.

The Chamber’s Role

• List your Event on the Chamber Website Calendar
• Announce your Event in the Chamber’s Email Blasts
• Announce the Event on the Chamber’s Social Media
• Invite: *Elected Officials, Chamber Board of Directors, Ambassador Committee, and Chamber Staff (*Please note that elected officials will say a few words and usually presents a citation.)
• Provide Ribbon, Large Ceremonial Scissors and Conduct the Event
• Post pictures on Social Media after event

Member Business Role

• Work with chamber staff to select a date & time as soon as possible in the planning of this event (The Chamber recommends to hold the event on Tuesdays or Wednesdays for best attendance numbers. However, we are happy to discuss best dates and times that work for our members.)  
• Provide a list to the Chamber in advance of the ribbon cutting of the company representatives to be recognized during the event and for the ribbon cutting photo
• Invite: Customers and Prospect, Friends & Family, Neighboring Businesses
• Post the announcement of the ribbon cutting on your own social media
• Company Signage (For photo purposes, have your company name or signage present so it is visible in the ribbon cutting photo)
• Offer a free gift, drawing, or giveaway (Optional) (Great way for you to collect attendees contact information if they put their business card in a drawing for a prize!)
• Put out balloons & sign in front of your business (Optional)
• Offer refreshments for attendees such as light appetizers, wine, beer or non-alcoholic drinks for early evening event or coffee and pastries for morning event
• Make sure you have parking spaces to accommodate the number of attendees
• Podium and microphone system (recommended for events with 50 or more people)
• Coat rack (if needed)
• Provide tours of the facility (if appropriate)

Event Schedule

• Chamber President will give opening remarks and introduce any VIPs (town officials, elected officials, and VIPs from the business to be recognized)
• VIPs will present their congratulation remarks and/or citations
• Business representative will be introduced to make any remarks
• Cutting of Ribbon and Photo
• Attendees enjoy networking and refreshment

We strongly encourage you to utilize the services of another member of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce who would be more than happy to work with you on related food or service.  Send an email to Carlene Covino for a list of members to contact.

To make the most of this special celebration, assure the availability of elected officials and/or Chamber staff, and avoid conflicts with other Chamber programs or functions, please schedule your event with the Chamber as early as possible. Remember, the earlier you contact us the better.