RALEIGH, N.C. – Today, the NC Chamber announced the 15 finalists—five from each category: small, medium, and large businesses—for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, which began with a record-setting 188 nominees.

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.

“Congratulations to this year’s Coolest Thing Made in NC finalists,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “The contest highlights the pride North Carolinians have in the products built right here at home. With more than 25,500 votes cast already, it’s clear our state takes seriously the saying: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina. This competition is more than a contest — it’s a tribute to the manufacturers who have anchored our economy for over 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 for the coolest thing made in NC. The last day to vote is Thursday, September 25. The three winning products will be revealed on Thursday, October 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 victorious 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.

For our Large Business Category, our 5 finalists are in alphabetical order by location:

Company	Product	City
Carrier	Carrier Chillers	Charlotte, NC
Alamance Foods	FunPops	Graham, NC
Nucor	Rebar	Lexington, NC
Siemens Mobility, Inc.	Passenger Coaches for Amtrak	Lexington, NC
Columbia Forest Products	PureBond® Formaldehyde-Free Decorative Hardwood Plywood	Old Fort, NC

 

For our Medium Business Category, our 5 finalists are in alphabetical order by location:

Company	Product	City
Regulator Marine	Regulator Boats	Edenton, 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

 

For our Small Business Category, our 5 finalists are in alphabetical order by location:

Company	Product	Size
Blaze On Creations	12 oz Can-dle	Arden, NC
Atlantic Beach Sea Salt Company	Atlantic Beach Sea Salt	Atlantic Beach, NC
Ordway Glass Company, LLC	Custom stained glass	Fuquay-Varina, NC
AFEX Dual Fire Suppression Systems	Dual Agent Fire Suppression System	Raleigh, NC
Brad Halling American Whiskey Co. LLC dba BHAWK	Madam Colonel Pistachio Bourbon Cream	Southern Pines, NC

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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.