INDIANA – The Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual “Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana” tournament has entered its third round, following a thrilling second round of voting that saw thousands of online votes cast and interest continuing to soar.
With a record 90 manufacturers initially competing, the field has now been narrowed to 32 remaining contestants, all vying for the prestigious title of the “Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana.”
Local businesses still in the race are:
- Bear Wallow Distillery (Nashville)
- Guardian Bikes (Seymour)
- Hard Truth Whiskey Co. (Nashville)
- Hiker Trailers (Columbus)
- Kimball International (Jasper)
- SpaceGuard Products (Seymour)
The competition, which is sponsored this year by the Indiana Chamber and the Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC), showcases the state’s diverse manufacturing sector and celebrates the innovative products created by Hoosier companies. The remaining competitors come from 25 cities across Indiana, each offering a unique and standout product.
“We’ve seen incredible enthusiasm from manufacturers and fans alike,” said Vanessa Green Sinders, president and CEO of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. “This event has truly become a platform to highlight Indiana’s tremendous makers, and as the competition progresses, the spotlight will only get brighter on the finalists and ultimate champion.”
Voting for Round 3 is now underway and will continue through November 15. Subsequent rounds will follow, with Round 4 running from November 18-21, Round 5 from November 22-26, and the Semifinals taking place from November 27-December 2. The Finals will take place from December 3-5, culminating in a dramatic conclusion to the 2024 contest.
The full list of competitors, matchups, and product descriptions can be found on the event’s official website. Fans can participate by casting their votes at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing. In each round, voters are required to vote on all matchups.
This year’s tournament, which is modeled after the popular “Hoosier Hysteria” basketball tournament, has seen some exciting new additions. The IDDC’s “IN Indiana” marketing campaign is being incorporated into the competition, further amplifying the state’s manufacturing talent. Additionally, the IDDC will produce high-quality promotional videos for the eight quarterfinalists, which they can use to promote their companies and showcase their products.
The contest is open to any company whose product is manufactured in Indiana, with one product allowed per company. Entry is free, and while companies do not need to be headquartered in the state, their product must be made within Indiana’s borders.
The 2024 tournament features seven rounds of competition, culminating in an award ceremony at the 2024 Best IN Manufacturing Awards Luncheon on December 11 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom.
Last year, the competition’s winner was Hoosier Racing Tire, honored for its innovative racing tires. In previous years, Janus Motorcycles of Goshen and Maple Leaf Farms of Leesburg were also crowned champions for their standout products. This year’s winner will join that prestigious list of Indiana manufacturers who have made their mark.
The “Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana” and the Best IN Manufacturing initiatives are supported by several industry sponsors, including spirit sponsor Purdue Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Purdue MEP), gold sponsor Kalenborn Abresist Corporation, and silver sponsors Evonik Tippecanoe Laboratories and Kimball Electronics Jasper.
The full list of the 32 remaining competitors, along with their home cities, is as follows:
- 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)
The tournament promises even more excitement in the coming weeks as these 32 manufacturers continue to battle it out for the title of Indiana’s “Coolest Thing.”
4o mini
By messaging ChatGPT, you agree to our Terms and have read our Privacy Policy.
Don’t share sensitive info. Chats may be reviewed and used to train our models. Learn
