RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the NC Chamber announced 30 semifinalists for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, which began with a record-breaking 188 nominees. In the first round of voting, 12,900 votes were cast across the field of candidates.

This year’s contest has 10 semifinalists in each of three categories: Small Business (1 to 99 employees); Medium Business (100 to 999 employees); and Large Business (1000+ employees).

This is the sixth year that the NC Chamber has held the popular, public-driven contest, which spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 13.3% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.

“As we always say at the NC Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina. This year’s semifinalists showcase the remarkable range and innovation found across North Carolina’s manufacturing sector—including food and beverage products, chillers, boats, and much more,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “We are grateful to North Carolina’s manufacturing community – the backbone of our state’s economy for more than a century.”

Baxter International is serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the online competition, and Business North Carolina is this year’s Media Partner. As the exclusive North Carolina affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the NC Chamber knows that a strong manufacturing industry is crucial to the state’s economic and competitive success. The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is collaborating on the annual contest as a Supporting Organization.

How to Vote:

Go to coolestthingmadeinnc.com to vote daily for the coolest thing made in NC. Round 2 of voting closes Friday, Sept. 12, at 9 p.m., with the top five finalists announced Friday, Sept. 19. The winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 2, the day before National Manufacturing (MFG) Day. October is Manufacturing Month, and MFG Day, organized nationally by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, highlights the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.

Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, the winning company and product will be featured in NC Chamber and Business North Carolina publications, podcasts, social and digital media, among additional statewide publicity efforts. Information on last year’s winner and runners-up can be found here.

The Coolest Thing Made in NC Semifinalists (in alphabetical order by manufacturing location):

Small Business Semifinalists (1-99 Employees)
Company	Product	Location
Blaze On Creations	12 oz Blaze On Can-dle	Arden, NC
Atlantic Beach Sea Salt Company	Atlantic Beach Sea Salt	Atlantic Beach, NC
Solid State Clothing	Hemp and Marigold Natural Tie Dye T-Shirt – Flower Child	Burlington, NC
Shopbot Tools Inc	ShopBot Desktop MAX ATC	Durham, NC
Ordway Glass Company, LLC	Custom stained glass	Fuquay-Varina, NC
AFEX	Dual Agent Fire Suppression System	Raleigh, NC
Terry C. McInturff Guitars	Terry C. McInturff Guitars	Siler City, NC
Brad Halling American Whiskey Co. LLC dba BHAWK	Madam Colonel Pistachio Bourbon Cream	Southern Pines, NC
Liberty Woodcraft	Hatteras Lighthouse Pub Table	Thomasville, NC
Chemtek, Inc	PavePro Asphalt Remover & Release Agent	Yanceyville, NC

Medium Business Semifinalists (100 – 999 Employees)
Company	Product	Location
East Fork Pottery	The Mug Femmes et singes	Asheville, NC
Armor Express	TacS-S1 Ballistic Shield Line	Eden, NC
Regulator Marine	Regulator Boats	Edenton, NC
Nags Head Hammocks	Duracord® Rope Hammock	Greenville, NC
Avient	Dyneema(R)	Greenville, NC
Johnson Concrete Products	ABRI Masonry Veneers by Johnson Concrete Products	Lexington, NC
Cheerwine	Cheerwine	Salisbury, NC
Carolina Packers	Bright leaf hot dogs	Smithfield, NC
World Cat / HC Composites	Powered Catamaran Boats	Tarboro, NC
Garner Foods	Texas Pete Hot Sauce	Winston-Salem, NC

Large Business Semifinalists (1000+ Employees)
Company	Product	Location
Carrier	Carrier Chillers	Charlotte, NC
Butterball	Ground Turkey	Garner, NC
Alamance Foods	FunPops	Graham, NC
Shurtape Technologies, LLC	T-Rex® Ferociously Strong Tape	Hickory, Stony Point, & Hudson
Nucor	Rebar	Lexington, NC
Siemens Mobility Inc.	Passenger coaches for Amtrak	Lexington, NC
Mt. Olive Pickle Company	Mt. Olive Munchies Portable Pickle Pouches	Mount Olive, NC
Columbia Forest Products	PureBond® Formaldehyde-Free Decorative Hardwood Plywood	Old Fort, NC
Bobcat Company	Bobcat MT120 Mini Track Loader	Statesville, NC
Monarch	Artwork by Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities	Winston-Salem, NC

About the NC Chamber

The NC Chamber works to research, develop, advocate, and communicate for solutions and policies that produce a nationally competitive business climate in North Carolina. For more information, visit ncchamber.com.

###