Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee Top 16 Finalists Revealed
Tennessee Manufacturers Association Contest Highlights Tennessee’s Top Products
Time is running out to vote for The Coolest Thing Made in Tennessee as the Top 16 finalists in the Tennessee Manufacturers Association’s first-ever contest have been revealed.
“These diverse products are just a few examples showcasing how Tennessee’s business community is helping our state, region and country turn towards the future,” Bradley Jackson, President & CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry/Tennessee Manufacturers Association, said. “We’d encourage all Tennesseans to vote for and highlight some of their favorite products made right here in Tennessee.”
This year, the Tennessee Chamber and Tennessee Manufacturers Association, in partnership with the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services, Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association, and Smart Factory Institute Tennessee, launched this inaugural contest, which saw over 100 submissions. To view the full list of 2024 nominees, click here.
Voting for the Top 16 will close Monday, June 24. The finalists are listed below:
- 100% Recycled Containerboard Grade Paper – Domtar Paper Company: Domtar Paper Company
- Eastman Tritan™ Renew - Eastman: Eastman Tritan™ Renew
- Eclipse Glasses - American Paper Optics: American Paper Optics Eclipse Glasses
- Gourmet Flavored Bacons - Hitman Smoked Products: Hitman Smoked Products
- Helicopters - Bell Textron: Bell Textron
- Huey – Blank Beauty: Blank Beauty Huey
- Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey – Jack Daniel's Distillery: Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
- M&M’S® PEANUT BUTTER MINIS – Mars Wrigley: M&M’S® Peanut Butter Minis
- Minute Hot Honey Chicken Rice Cups – Riviana Foods: Minute Hot Honey Chicken Rice Cups
- Phone As A Key (PAAK) - DENSO: DENSO Phone As A Key (PAAK)
- Polysilicon – Wacker Chemical Corp: Wacker Chemical Corp Polysilicon
- Rogue - Nissan: Nissan Rogue
- Twin Forward Drive - Volvo Penta Marine Products: Volvo Penta Twin Forward Drive
- Whisper Drive Enabled Leaf Blower – Whisper Aero: Whisper Aero Whisper Drive Enabled Leaf Blower
- Worm Gear Clamp – Ideal Tridon: Ideal Tridon Worm Gear Clamp
- Z370r - Electric Zero Turn Mower – John Deere: John Deere Z370r Electric Zero Turn Mower
Voting for the Top 8 will commence on Wednesday, June 26 and run through Tuesday, July 2. The Top 4 will be announced on Monday, July 8 with final voting starting on Tuesday, July 9 through Wednesday, July 24.
The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 25 at The Coolest Things Made in Tennessee Luncheon at The Commons at PIE Innovation Center in Cleveland, Tennessee.
Registration details for the luncheon, as well as sponsorship opportunities, can be found here.
About the Partners:
Tennessee Chamber and Tennessee Manufacturers Association: The Tennessee Chamber of Commerce also serves as the Tennessee Manufacturers Association, affiliated with the National Association of Manufacturers. Like a number of other state associations that function as both the state chamber and state manufacturers association, we approach public policy with the belief that if things negatively impact manufacturing, it harms all employers. We maintain a proud history of unmatched advocacy in the state Capitol, having a hand in Tennessee’s most prominent business policy accomplishments.
University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services: The University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS) delivers technical assistance and training to businesses and communities throughout Tennessee. UT CIS has the real-world experience and expertise to give businesses and communities the tools they need to grow, succeed and create good jobs. Since its creation in 1963, UT CIS has grown its staff of professional employees located in six offices across the state. UT CIS is an agency of the UT Institute of Public Service and houses several nationally known programs, including the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership, EDA University Center, Procurement Technical Assistance Center and OSHA Training Institute.
The Made in Tennessee program, started in 2013, is a no-cost membership program hosted by the University of Tennessee Center for Industrial Services (UTCIS). The program provides registered members a profile in a manufacturing directory on www.madeintn.org, through which other businesses and customers can locate information about products and services. Tennessee manufacturers with a NAICS code beginning with 31, 32 or 33 are eligible to join.
Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association: CRMA was founded in 1902 as the Chattanooga Manufacturers Association with Captain C.D. Mitchell, a Civil War veteran from Dunlap, Iowa, serving as the first President. Mitchell returned to Chattanooga after the war, and was operating the Chattanooga Plow Company when he and other leaders recognized the need for concerted action by manufacturers to obtain favorable freight rates on manufactured products shipped by rail to mid-western markets. The Chattanooga Manufacturers Association was the first local manufacturers association in the United States.
Smart Factory Institute Tennessee: An exclusive U.S. institute providing manufacturers with connections, collaborative relationships, and certifications for improving manufacturing processes. The Smart Factory Institute is available to all manufacturers, large and small, across the country for innovation and workforce training.
