Voting started today for the NC Chamber’s fifth annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition. A record 145 products were nominated this year. Baxter International, which manufactures intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions as well as other products north of Marion, is the sponsor of the public contest that spotlights North Carolina’s manufacturing industry.
The winners of the contest and their products will be featured in the November issue of Business North Carolina.
Just the list is worth looking at. It covers everything from the HondaJet Elite II made by Honda Aircraft in Greensboro to the beach-necessity Shibumi Shade made in Raleigh. My eye was drawn to the double chocolate croissant made at the French Broad Pantry, but then I started thinking about how much easier my life would be with a Q800 E/M/R Series QuikTrak Commercial Stand-on Mower like they make at the John Deere plant in Fuquay-Varina.
The contest recognizes two winners – one for businesses with fewer than 100 employees and one for businesses with more than 100 employees.
“Congratulations to our 2024 Coolest Thing Made in NC nominees; each product showcases the impact and innovation of manufacturers in North Carolina,” said NC Chamber CEO Gary Salamido. “As we say at the NC Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina.”
The NC Chamber launched the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition to celebrate North Carolina’s vital manufacturing community – and champion the next generation of manufacturers and creators by raising awareness about the careers available in modern manufacturing.
The manufacturing industry generates more than 17% of the state’s gross domestic product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.
Last year, the online contest began with 130 nominees and after three rounds of public voting totaling almost 50,000 votes, CR Onsrud’s Q-Series 5-Axis CNC Machine and Fjord Inc.’s Static Rope Edge Protection earned the top spots.
You can vote daily until Thursday, Aug. 29. The 15 semifinalists for each category will be announced live on YouTube on Thursday, Sept. 5. The field of candidates will narrow with each round of voting, and the winning products will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 3, the day before National Manufacturing Day.
Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC.