NC Chamber announced the 145 products nominated for its fifth annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, and dozens of those nominees are manufactured here in the Charlotte Region.
Presented by Baxter International, the public contest spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 17% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.
The contest recognizes two winners: one for businesses with fewer than 100 employees, and one for businesses with 100+ employees.
This year’s contest boasts its highest number of nominees, topping last year’s record of 130 nominated businesses.
“Congratulations to our 2024 Coolest Thing Made in NC nominees; each product showcases the impact and innovation of manufacturers in North Carolina,” NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido said. “As we say at the NC Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina.”
Here’s the list of products made in the Charlotte Region that are vying for the top spot:
- Arhaus: Kipton Furniture Collection, Conover
- ATI Materials: Hafnium, Monroe
- Atom Power: Atom Switch, Huntersville
- Barvecue: Pulled BVQ, Cornelius
- Bella Tunno: Wonder Bib, Matthews
- BLUDEK+Trim: The Sol Collection – PVC Decking, Conover
- Bobcat Company: PG570 Portable Generator, Statesville
- Candys Arm Rests: Motorcycle Arm Rests, Huntersville
- Carrier: Centrifugal Chillers, Charlotte
- Casco Signs: 75th NASCAR Sign, Concord
- CertainTeed LLC: Norandex Vinyl Siding, Claremont
- Cheerwine: Cheerwine, Salisbury
- Chiphole Chipong: Chiphole Chipong Original Set, Charlotte
- CMC Dry Ice Manufacturing: Dry Ice, Concord
- Coinhole®: American Flag Coinhole® Game Set, Lattimore
- Cook’s Mill Whiskey: American Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Statesville
- EarthKind: Fresh Cab Spider Deterrent, Mooresville
- Hays Fluid Controls: Hays Navy Product, Dallas
- Hurst – Jaws of Life: M 40 E3 Spreader, Shelby
- Kimo’s ONO Grindz: Hawaiian Chili Pepper Waters, China Grove
- Mantissa Corporation: Scorpion® Sortation System, Charlotte
- Map Shop: Raised Relief Maps, Charlotte
- Piedmont Pennies: Original Sharp Cheddar Biscuit Bites, Charlotte
- Riley | Kar Kraft: Kar-Kraft MkIV Continuation, Mooresville
- Roush & Yates Racing Engines: V6 Twin-turbo EcoBoost Engine for Limited Edition Ford GT Mk IV, Mooresville
- Seate’s Syrup & More: Elderberry Syrup, Monroe
- Shurtape Technologies, LLC: FrogTape® Multi-Surface Painter’s Tape, Hickory
- Splawn: Amplifiers, Dallas
- Sweet’s Elderberry: Sweet’s Elderberry Shrub, Charlotte
- The Fence Buddy: The Fence Buddy, Cornelius
- The Old 97 Kettlecorn Company: Salisbury Blend, Spencer
- U.S. Legend Cars International: Legend Car, Harrisburg
- WoolTribe: Signature Cable Beanie, Charlotte
In 2020, the NC Chamber launched the “Coolest Thing Made in NC” competition to celebrate North Carolina’s vital manufacturing community – and champion the next generation of manufacturers and creators by raising awareness about the rewarding careers of modern manufacturing. Last year, the online contest began with 130 nominees and after three rounds of public voting totaling almost 50,000 votes, CR Onsrud’s Q-Series 5-Axis CNC Machine and Fjord Inc’s Static Rope Edge Protection earned the top spots.
The 15 semifinalists for each category will be announced on Sept. 5. The field of candidates will narrow with each round of voting, and the winning products will be revealed on Oct. 3, the day before National Manufacturing Day.
