People often joke that all the Chamber does is ribbon cuttings.

Truthfully, they’ve always been one of my favorite parts of what we do. Not because of the ribbon or the enormous scissors (although they’re always a conversation starter), but because, for 15 minutes, the emails can wait, the phones stop ringing, and everyone comes together to celebrate someone else’s hard work and success. The ribbon is just an excuse.

In my seven years working for the Chamber, I’ve been fortunate to hold the ribbon for nonprofits, new businesses, milestones and anniversaries, businesses being passed to the next generation, and companies expanding into new locations for the first time — even after serving their communities for more than a century. I’ve celebrated the unveiling of historical markers, new schools and even new ambulances for a local EMS Corps; I’ve taken ceremonial “first bites,” and watched bottles of wine sabered in celebration! I even held the scissors myself when the CCEDC launched our new branding in 2025.

No matter how many ribbon cuttings I’ve attended, they never lose their meaning. I never take for granted the privilege of being a part of that milestone.

Every celebration represents years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication towards a dream realized, and the people who show up to support those moments make all the difference.

We live in a world that moves incredibly fast, and we rarely pause long enough to recognize our progress. It’s a known fact that attention spans are shorter, our calendars are fuller, and we’re constantly shifting our attention to what’s next.

Before we open our doors, we’re already focused on payroll, staffing, inventory, marketing and the next challenge, while balancing family, community involvement, personal well-being and everything else life demands.

That’s why ribbon cuttings aren’t about the ribbon or the scissors. They’re about slowing down, showing up and taking a moment to celebrate the hard work we do day in and day out to make our businesses and communities thrive. They give customers, neighbors, friends, family and fellow business owners the opportunity to show up.

And believe me, showing up matters.

Communities are built by people, and every time we show up for one another, we make them stronger. It’s the customers who intentionally choose to support local and the neighboring business owners who stop in to say congratulations.

It’s elected officials who take time to welcome a new investment, and the friends and family who believed in someone’s dream long before it became reality ... they’re all part of the story. They’re the reason the ribbon matters in the first place.

Maybe that’s why ribbon cuttings never get old for me. They’re a reminder that none of us builds something meaningful alone. Sometimes the simplest way to strengthen a community is simply to show up.

So, the next time you see a ribbon cutting announced, I hope you’ll consider stopping by. Not because the Chamber will be there, but because your presence matters — and because someone in your community took a chance on a dream and invested in the place we all call home.

Kylie Adams-Weiss is senior vice president of the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.