(INDIANAPOLIS) — With interest continuing at an all-time high and thousands of online votes cast, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana tournament is down to 32 competitors as second round action concludes and the third round tips off. The contest began with a record field of 90 manufacturers.
This year, the Indiana Chamber is joined by the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) in putting on the program.
The 32 remaining makers are from 25 cities. They are listed below.
Voting for the remaining rounds is as follows:
Round 3: November 12-15
Round 4: November 18-21
Round 5: November 22-26
Semis: November 27-December 2
Finals: December 3-5
The contestants, matchups, array of cool products and product descriptions can be seen on the event’s web site. Fans and followers of the competitors can be part of the competition by voting online at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing. Voters must vote for all matchups in any given round in which they vote.
The IDDC’s “IN Indiana” marketing campaign is incorporated into this year’s Coolest Thing Made contest, which is run like a single-elimination, Hoosier Hysteria-style tournament.
“This event has become just what the Indiana Chamber and IDDC hoped for: a showcase for the many tremendous makers and re-manufacturers across Indiana,” says Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “With interest continuing to intensify as the competitors are narrowed down to the very coolest, we know the spotlight will burn bright on the winners of upcoming rounds and the eventual champion.”
New this year, the IDDC will produce high-quality videos showcasing the eight quarterfinalists, which those companies will be able to use for their own promotions – and bragging rights.
Entry in the contest is free. To participate, a company did not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the product entered must be manufactured in the state. Companies are limited to having one product nominated for entry.
The tournament, which this year features seven rounds, concludes in early December.
Last year, Hoosier Racing Tire was crowned as the producer of the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana for its racing tire. Janus Motorcycles of Goshen took top honors in the inaugural competition, and in 2022 the Chamber honored Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg for its roast half duck.
Awards for this year’s top finishers will be presented at the 2024 Best IN Manufacturing Awards Luncheon on December 11 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
The Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana and Best IN Manufacturing endeavors are supported by spirit sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP), with gold sponsor Kalenborn Abresist Corporation and silver sponsors Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories and Kimball Electronics Jasper.
Remaining competitors and their home cities are:
80/20 LLC, Columbia City
Antique Candle Co., Lafayette
Aqua Blast Corp., Decatur
Bear Wallow Distillery, Nashville
Blue Fox Farms LLC, Wawaka
Clabber Girl, Terre Haute
Country Roads Coffee, Albion
Electric Jet Aircraft, Pendleton
Foamnasium, Greenfield
Fort Wayne Metals, Fort Wayne
Gator, Columbia City
GEN-Y Hitch, Nappanee
Goshen Brewing Co., Goshen
Guardian Bikes, Seymour
Hard Truth Whiskey Co., Nashville
Harpsicle Harps, Rising Sun
Hiker Trailers, Columbus
Kidstuff Playsystems Inc., Gary
Kimball International, Jasper
L3Harris Technologies Inc., Fort Wayne
Labcorp, Indianapolis
Marsha’s Specialty Desserts & Tierney’s Catering, Avon
Middle Davids Artisan Candles & Gifts, Franklin
Noble Industries, Noblesville
Polygon Company, Walkerton
QuickFreeze, Fort Wayne
Rolls-Royce North America, Indianapolis
Smoker Craft, Inc., New Paris
SpaceGuard Products, Seymour
Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions, Granger
Wheelin Water LLC, New Haven
Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers, Greenfield
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The Indiana Chamber partners with 25,000 members and investors – representing over four million Hoosiers – to achieve the mission of “cultivating a world-class environment which provides economic opportunity and prosperity.”
