The 25th edition of the Battle of the Businesses will be held in September.
The event, hosted by the Jamestown Area YMCA, is under the direction of Tom Anderson, Lakewood YMCA branch manager. The week-long competition will take place Sept. 8-15 and is open to all area businesses.
The Battle of the Businesses is a series of athletic events in which employees represent their companies by competing against employees from other similar size businesses.
This year's events include a one-pitch softball tournament, nine-hole golf scramble, bowling, coed volleyball, pickleball, pool 8-ball doubles, 800-medley running relay, predicted mile walk, team dodge ball, miniature golf, scrabble, 2-mile run/walk, archery/sharpshooting, paddling, Sur"Y"vor IV and bean bag toss.
New this year are the laser tag event at the Gateway Center and bonus event of karaoke hosted by Felony Entertainment held at the YMCA's Camp Onyahsa.
The 12 Large Division teams last year were Aspire of WNY, Bush Industries, Cummins, Heritage Ministries, Hope's Windows, Jamestown Teachers Association, Lutheran Social Services, SKF Aeroengine, Southwestern Central School District, The Resource Center, TitanX Engine Cooling and Truck-Lite.
The Small Division teams were Allied Fire/Joo-Dee TV, Anderson Precision, BWB, Chautauqua Lake Secondary School, Closure Systems International, Frewsburg Central School, Jamestown Bar Association/City Court, Matco Tools, Northwest Savings Bank - Jamestown, Panama Central School, Pepsi Beverages Company/Farm Fresh Foods, Rand Machine Products, Inc./Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, Sandberg Kessler Architecture & Engineering, Serta Mattress, The Post-Journal, Trinity Biotech and Zurn Industries.
Last year's champions and trophy holders were Jamestown Teachers Association representing the Large Division and Anderson Precision for the Small Division.
Participants will receive a competition T-shirt sporting a Battle logo and their company name. Those registered now can start using either of the Jamestown or Lakewood YMCA facilities for practice and training.
There will be an organizational captain's dinner at 6 p.m. on Aug. 30 at the Diamond Cafe in Lakewood. All team captains are expected to attend. The team roster, waiver of liability, and event rosters are due that evening or before. Participant T-shirts, event schedules, and guidelines will be available at that time.
Information packets can be picked up at the Jamestown YMCA or Lakewood YMCA. The application, event roster, and entry fee are due Aug. 3.
For more information, contact Anderson at 763-0303 at the Lakewood YMCA or Scott Mekus at 664-2802, ext. 236, at the Jamestown YMCA.