Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Chamber’s fifth annual Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana tournament field has been trimmed from 49 to 32 competitors as first round voting has concluded, and the second round tipped off Friday.
The 32 remaining makers are from 23 cities.
The online contest is a celebration of Indiana’s history in manufacturing and the Hoosier makers that produce all kinds of goods sold locally, nationally and globally. The competition format is a Hoosier Hysteria-style single-elimination tournament, with the top vote earner in each matchup advancing to the next round.
Voting dates for the remaining rounds are as follows:
Round 2: Dec. 5-10
Round 3: Dec. 11-16
Quarterfinals: Jan. 2-7
Semis: Jan. 8-12
Finals: Jan. 13-15
The contestants, matchups, array of cool products and product descriptions can be seen on the event’s website. Fans and followers of the competitors can be part of the competition by voting online at www.indianachamber.com/coolestthing.
With the beginning of each new round, the votes from the previous round are wiped away, and every remaining competitor starts the new round with no votes. Voters must vote for all matchups in any given round in which they vote.
“This event continues to be a great showcase for the many outstanding makers across Indiana,” says Vanessa Green Sinders, Indiana Chamber president and CEO. “With interest intensifying as the field is narrowed down to the very coolest, we know the spotlight will burn bright on the winners of upcoming rounds and the eventual champion.”
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 their entry.
Last year, Nashville’s Hard Truth Whiskey Co. and Rising Sun-based Harpsicle Harps shared top honors.
In 2023, Hoosier Racing Tire was crowned as the producer of the Coolest Thing Made IN Indiana for its racing tire. In 2022, the Indiana Chamber honored Maple Leaf Farms, Leesburg, for its roast half duck, and Janus Motorcycles, Goshen, was victorious in the inaugural competition.
Awards for this year’s top finishers will be presented at the Indiana Chamber’s Best in Business Awards Luncheon sponsored by Charter Spectrum TV/Internet/Voice on Jan. 26 at the Indiana Convention Center.
The list of local companies making the second round has been trimmed to two with E Brewing Company, South Whitley, and GEN-Y Hitch, Nappanee, moving on.
