Anna Woodward gave me a ride after the open house at Community & Family Resources Wednesday and there in the passenger seat of her SUV was a giant roll of ribbon.

It’s no secret that the pace of ribbon cuttings has ramped up recently.

And with good reason.

Webster City has long pined for new manufacturing. That a firm will roll out mass quantities of cookies is a real sweet surprise. After watching firms close that manufactured laundry appliances, central vacuums and other products for decades, Webster City is now home to a cookie factory.

Tic Tac Dough, the new bakery and shop at 1971 James Street, Webster City, officially opened its doors on Tuesday.

It didn’t relocate from somewhere else; it’s a new home-grown venture owned by Webster City-based Peterson Construction Company.

“I’ve worked in the construction industry my entire career,” Gerald Peterson said, “but we’ve always kept our eyes open for new opportunities. This one involves manufacturing and distribution of a new product for us: cookies.”

There’s a ribbon for that.

On Wednesday, CFR threw open the doors to its 500 Fair Meadow Drive site in Webster City. The tour included a look at the large building that was originally built by Peterson Construction, then owned by Hamilton County, before being sold to CFR so that it could expand its substance abuse treatment services here. Of particular note is the residential recovery suite that can house up to 14 men who are transitioning their lives from addiction to healthy living.

Peterson Construction had a hand in that too and, yes, there was a ribbon for that.

Recent ribbon-cuttings have inaugurated the practical — there are new sidewalks, signs and canopies on the Webster City Community Theatre’s Performing Arts Center at 1001 Willson Avenue, or the purely recreational or whimsical — think the East Twin Park splash pad, the giant Doodle Bug at the corner of Second and Seneca streets, or the marvelously decorated sculptural couch just down the block where art intersects with its neighbor who sells flooring.

Taqueria El Paraiso and Happily Homemade have been the scenes of ribbon-cuttings too.

Today, The Cat Hut will cut a ribbon to celebrate the Atrium it has built in the center of what was once the dining room of the old Pizza Hut, 1118 Second Street. It’s a place where lucky cats can hang out while they wait for their “furever” homes.

Woodward, our Webster City Area Chamber of Commerce director, has shown remarkable enthusiasm for promoting this place. While it is the collective energy of many people that has led to these celebratory moments, it is Woodward who stands behind the video camera calling 3-2-1 when it’s time to wield the oversized scissors.

These ribbon-cuttings are excellent markers of progress.

Before Wednesday, we had just been saying here at the office that there must be a huge roll of ribbon somewhere.

Then I climbed into Anna Woodward’s front seat.

I can confirm there is still plenty of ribbon — and I know where it’s kept.

Jane Curtis is interim editor of the Daily Freeman-Journal. She is a 2024 Iowa Newspaper Association Master Columnist.