Businesses Within Two Hours of Campus are Eligible to Win; Sponsored by Former Winner

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Area businesses within a two-hour drive of JMU’s campus will want to take advantage of the “Small Business Game Changer” campaign when it opens for entries on September 3. Eligible businesses with 250 employees or less will have the opportunity to enter through November 21, 2022.

JMU Athletics, in collaboration with its multimedia rightsholder JMU Sports Properties, provides the winning small business with a valuable marketing package worth $20,000. For the second-consecutive year, the “Small Business Game Changer” sponsor is Appeal Production – a former winner of the same campaign, with a desire to pay it forward to help positively impact another local business.

“Owning a small business is the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve done. Being able to win a marketing package like this can truly be a Game Changer for a business. It was for Appeal,” said Appeal Production Owner and Imaginative Producer Andy Vanhook.

“We’ve always believed in giving back to the community, which has supported us so much over the past eleven years. With this opportunity, we could give back to small businesses as well. It was a perfect fit for us.”

Starting September 3, businesses are encouraged to visit JMUSports.com/GameChanger for the rules and entry criteria, with the possibility of winning brand exposure among JMU’s passionate fanbase and campus community. Walkabout Outfitter was the 2021 winner. This year’s winning business will receive a professional video created by Appeal Production; in-venue digital signage during football and basketball seasons; commercials during select radio broadcasts; and a print-at-home ticket advertisement.

“This is a tremendous initiative to bring attention to one very deserving small business within a two-hour drive of the campus,” said JMU Sports Properties General Manager Mike Chatburn. “Again, we greatly appreciate the commitment by Appeal Production to give back to the community this way. They’ve been a great JMU Athletics’ partner, and we appreciate their ongoing support.”

A panel of judges will review submissions for the 2022 Small Business Game Changer campaign. The panel of judges will base their decision on creativity, originality, and values and select a winner on or before December 1, 2022. The relationship with Appeal Production, and oversight of the small business campaign, is managed by JMU Sports Properties, the local LEARFIELD team that works alongside the athletics administration as the Dukes’ multimedia rights partner.

Appeal Production, based in Harrisonburg, is a video marketing firm that inspires business growth with dazzling video. Whether you need to hire the next great employee or excite new customers, we help you grow from invisible to irresistible. For more about Appeal and its services, visit appealproduction.com.