Video Production - Fremont Recreational Center Authority Millage Passing

Project Title: Keep the Doors Open: Millage Awareness Video for Fremont Recreational Center Authority
Client: Fremont Community Recreation Authority
Creative Director / Producer: Nic Dampier
Date: 2025
Scope: Promotional Campaign Video (30 seconds)
Objective: Create a short, high-impact video to raise public awareness and support for a crucial millage vote, helping ensure the Fremont Community Recreation Center could continue serving the community.

The Fremont Community Recreation Center is more than just a gym—it’s a lifeline for families, seniors, youth, and the broader Fremont, Michigan community. In 2025, the Rec Center faced a critical turning point: the renewal of its funding millage was up for vote. If it didn’t pass, the center risked closing its doors to reduced funding.
I was contracted to create a concise, emotionally resonant video campaign that would rally the community, educate voters, and drive public support ahead of the vote. The 30-second video showcased the facility’s wide-reaching impact—from youth sports and senior fitness to mental health and connection. The result? A successful millage vote and a rec center that remains open and thriving.

Raise public awareness of the millage vote and its importance to the community
Humanize the issue by showing real people benefiting from the Rec Center’s offerings
Drive urgency and engagement in a short-form, emotionally compelling format
Ensure the long-term viability of the Rec Center by helping the community say “yes” to keeping it funded and open

Residents of Newaygo County, Michigan eligible to vote on the millage
Local families, students, and seniors who rely on the Rec Center
Community leaders and influencers advocating for civic engagement
Voters who may not be fully aware of the Rec Center’s value or the impact of the millage

30-Second Promotional Video:
A fast-paced, community-driven video featuring diverse footage of the Rec Center’s programs, activities, and people. The video was designed for social media, local news, and city government sharing—making the case for why the Rec Center matters and what would be lost without it.

Show, Don’t Tell:
Let the footage speak—families laughing in the pool, seniors walking the track, kids playing basketball, volunteers helping, and members of all ages connecting through wellness.
Emotionally Focused Messaging:
Light narration and on-screen text emphasized community, continuity, and care. The central message: "This place matters. Keep it open."
Designed for Rapid Sharing:
The video was optimized for social media formats, allowing local leaders and residents to easily post, share, and advocate in their own networks.

High engagement on social media and through local advocacy groups
Video widely shared by community members, schools, and local leaders in the days leading up to the vote
Millage successfully passed, securing continued operations and public access to the Fremont Community Recreation Center
Fremont Recreation Authority credited the campaign as a key piece in generating awareness and public support

This project was more than a video—it was a voice for a community space that gives back daily. In just 30 seconds, we told a story that reminded Fremont why shared spaces matter, why every vote counts, and why it’s worth fighting for places where people belong. This is what it looks like when storytelling protects community.

Video Production - NCATS