Press release

INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana tournament is down to 32 competitors as the second round ends and the third round begins.

Voting for the remaining rounds takes place as follows: Round 3 – November 12-15; Round 4 – November 18 to 21; Round 5 – November 22-26; Semi-finals – November 27-December. 2; Finals – December 3-5

The competition opened with a record field of 90 makers, and of the remaining 32, some are nearby, including Smoker Craft Inc. in New Paris, Gen-Y Hitch in Nappanee, Goshen Brewing Co. in Goshen and Polygon Co. in Walkerton.

Other companies still competing in the area, but not as close, are 80/20 LLC, Columbia City; Blue Fox Farms LLC, Wawaka; Fort Wayne Metals, Fort Wayne; Gator, City of Columbia; L3Harris Technologies Inc., Fort Wayne; QuickFreeze, Fort Wayne; Wag’n Tails Mobile Conversions, Granger; and Wheelin Water LLC, New Haven.

Competitors, matchups, product lineup and product descriptions can be viewed on the event website. Fans and followers of the contestants can enter the competition by voting online at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing. Voters must vote for all matchups in a given round in which they vote.

This year, the Indiana Chamber was joined by the Indiana Destination Development Corp. to implement the program.

IDDC’s “IN Indiana” marketing campaign is being incorporated into this year’s Coolest Thing Made competition, which is being run like a Hoosier Hysteria-style single-elimination tournament.

“This event has become exactly what the Indiana Chamber and IDDC hoped for: a showcase for Indiana’s many wonderful manufacturers and remanufacturers,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber. Indiana. “As interest continues to build as competitors narrow down to the coolest, we know the spotlight will be on the winners of upcoming rounds and the eventual champion.”

New this year, IDDC will produce videos featuring the eight quarterfinalists, which these companies can use for their own promotions and bragging rights.

Participation in the competition is free. To participate, a company did not need to be headquartered in Indiana, but the entered product had to be manufactured in the state. Companies are limited to having only one product nominated for entry.

Last year, Hoosier Racing Tire was crowned 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 Half Duck Roast.

This year’s top awards 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 efforts are supported by spiritual sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP), with gold sponsor Kalenborn Abresist Corp. and silver sponsors Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories and Kimball Electronics Jasper.

Other remaining competitors and their hometowns include: Antique Candle Co., Lafayette; Aqua Blast Corp., Decatur; Bear Wallow Distillery, Nashville; Clabber Daughter, Terre Haute; Country Roads Cafe, Albion; Electric Jet Plane, Pendleton; Foamnase, Greenfield; Guardian Bikes, Seymour; Hard Truth Whiskey Co., Nashville; Harpsicle Harps, Rising Sun; Hiker Trailers, Columbus; Kidstuff Playsystems Inc., Gary; Kimball International, Jasper; Labcorp, Indianapolis; Specialty desserts from Marsha and Tierney’s Catering, Avon; Middle Davids Handmade Candles and Gifts, Franklin; Noble Industries, Noblesville; Rolls-Royce North America, Indianapolis; SpaceGuard Products, Seymour; and Yamaha Marine Precision propellers, Greenfield.