The El Dorado-Union County Chamber of Commerce will celebrate several businesses in the community in the coming weeks.
Ribbon cuttings have been scheduled for five businesses in Union County over the next three weeks.
First up is State Farm agent Kim Dupree, who Karen Hicks, the Chamber's membership and events coordinator, said is moving locations. According to her website, Dupree sells auto, homeowner, renter, business, life and health insurance.
"She's moving to a new office," said Hicks.
The ribbon cutting is scheduled for Thursday, May 25, at 11 a.m. at 101 W. 5th St., the new office location.
Peggy Lee Travel, a travel agency in El Dorado, will also hold a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, May 30 at 11 a.m., Hicks said. The location of the ceremony was still to be determined as of Tuesday afternoon.
On Friday, June 2, Hog Wild Bins and Bargains will celebrate its opening with a ribbon cutting. The bulk discount store opened in late March. The ribbon cutting will be held at 11 a.m. at the store location, 2886 N. West Ave.
On June 8, a Thursday, the Chamber will hold a ribbon cutting at Ideal Options, a new medical clinic serving patients in recovery from substance use.
"It's a medical facility here in town, on Main Street, that has counselors and medical doctors and they work on recovery," Hicks said. "The concept is there's a drug that now can help you wean off opioids."
The company's website states that the outpatient clinic "provides evidence-based treatment for addiction to opioids like fentanyl, heroin and oxycodone, and stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine." Alcohol abuse can also be addressed there.
The ribbon cutting for the clinic is scheduled for 11 a.m. at 625 E. Main St.
In Strong, a ribbon cutting will be held for the River Bottom Grill on Thursday, June 15.
"That's a big one in Strong which I'm excited about," Hicks said.
The restaurant's menu features Southern staples like Cajun cuisine, along with regionally-based items like the "Ouachita burger." River Bottom Grill has been in operation since 2017.
The ribbon cutting at the restaurant, 9465 Strong Hwy., is set for 2 p.m. on June 15.
Ribbon cuttings are a benefit of Chamber membership, Hicks said, and usually, several Chamber staff members as well as Chamber ambassadors will attend the ceremonies.
"Our ambassador group are a diverse, eclectic group of people who have their hands in a lot," Hicks said. "We intentionally create our ambassadors to represent different aspects of the community so they can take it back to their co-workers, colleagues, church. It's just one more way we work to make sure that your business is on the lips of people."
The Chamber's ribbon cuttings are included on the city calendar on goeldorado.com.
So far this year, the Chamber has held 11 ribbon cutting ceremonies, Hicks said.