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Grand Openings

Has your business opened, relocated, expanded, or changed ownership within the past 12 months? The Chamber provides free assistance with grand openings for member companies.

A grand opening ceremony is an important part of your overall marketing and advertising plan, and is a great way to celebrate. Chamber staff will provide the following services for grand openings at member businesses:

  • Request proclamations or certificates from the City of Frederick (if business is located within city limits), Board of County Commissioners, and the Governor’s office
  • Provide referrals to other Chamber businesses that can provide catering, party rentals, publicity, invitations, and other related services
  • Provide contact information for local elected officials, so you may extend a personal invitation to your event
  • Provide a sample press release and a list of local media contacts
  • Notify The Frederick News-Post and The Gazette of the date and time of the event
  • Provide the giant Chamber scissors and red ribbon for use at the ceremony
  • List the date, time, location, and contact information in our weekly email update, sent to almost 2000 representatives from Chamber member businesses

Scheduling a grand opening with the Chamber should take place a minimum of three (3) weeks prior to the event to allow time for planning, promotion, and other details.

The Chamber can schedule and participate in ribbon cutting ceremonies planned Monday through Thursday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. However, other days and times may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis, as staff schedules permit.

For more information, or to schedule a grand opening, contact Wendy Errera at 301.662.4553 or werrera@frederickchamber.org

The GIANT Chamber Scissors

If you've attended a Chamber ribbon cutting ceremony, you've probably seen our gigantic scissors! They've been at the Chamber since 2003.

When DynPort Vaccine Company, a Chamber member business, opened its facility on Thomas Johnson Drive in July of 2003, they ordered the huge metal scissors* for their grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony. After their event, they generously donated the scissors to the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce, and we've been using them to celebrate grand openings ever since!

Above: The 2003 ribbon cutting ceremony at DynPort Vaccine Company (DVC) LLC, a CSC company

Right: April Finnen, Associate Director of Communications at DVC, donated the company's grand opening scissors to the Chamber in 2003. In this picture, she's posing with the scissors at a February 2011 ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating the launch of Beth Schillaci's Your Social Media Roadmap book.

Thanks, April!

* Yes, they really do cut!