Coolest Thing Made in NC — Nominations Open!
Do YOU know what the Coolest Thing Made in NC is?
The Coolest Thing Made in NC contest is an exciting opportunity for manufacturers in North Carolina to showcase their innovative products and compete for the title “Coolest Thing Made in NC.” This contest not only highlights the incredible manufacturing capabilities of the state but also encourages economic growth and promotes local businesses.
The contest, organized by the North Carolina Chamber in partnership with the North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP), aims to recognize and celebrate the diverse range of products made in the Tar Heel state. All industries are invited to participate and showcase their unique creations, from advanced technology to traditional craftsmanship. This contest serves as a platform to showcase the talent and creativity of North Carolina manufacturers.
Nominations close August 14, 2023
List of Nominees
| Company | Product Name | City where Manufactured |
| *Amrep | Amrep Garbage Trucks | Salibury |
| *Aplix | Hook and Loop Fasteners | Charlotte |
| *Armor Express | AETOS PC Vest | Eden |
| *Atom Power | Atom Switch | Huntersville |
| *Bankote Corporation of America | Banknote Corporation of America USPS Stamps | Browns Summit |
| *Bayliss Boatworks | 62′ Bayliss Boatworks Sportfishing Yacht | Wanchese |
| *Boone Brands | Patterson’s Hot Dog Chilli | Sanford |
| *Bradford Products | Custom Hotel & Resort Pools | Leland |
| *C.R. Onsrud | Q-Series 5-Axis CNC Machine | Troutman |
| *Carolina Carports | Carolina Carports | Dobson |
| *Carolina Packers | Bright Leaf Hot Dogs | Smithfield |
| *Century Furniture | Chandler Telescoping Dining Table | Hickory |
| *Columbia Forest Products | PureBond Formaldehyde-Free Hardwood Plywood | Old Fort |
| *Corning Optical Communications | Corning Optical Fiber and Cable | Wilmington, Concord, Hickory, Newton and Winston-Salem |
| *CSL Seqirus | Flucelvax Quadrivalent | Holly Springs |
| *Energizer | Energizer AA Batteries | Asheboro |
| *Garner Foods | Texas Pete Hot Sauce | Winston-Salem |
| *Grady-White Boats | Grady-White 281 CE | Greenville |
| *Hexagon Agility | Hexagon Agility Fuel Storage and Delivery System | Salisbury |
| *HondaJet | HondaJet Elite II | Greensboro |
| *Humacyte | Human Acellular Vessel (HAV) | Durham |
| *Lotus Bakery | Biscoff Cookies | Mebane |
| *Mallinckrodt | Mallinckrodt Acetominophen | Raleigh |
| *Merck | M-M-R®II Vaccine | Durham |
| *Mt. Olive | Mt. Olive Dill Pickle Juicers | Mt Olive |
| *Nester Hosiery | Farm-to-Feet Socks | Mt. Airy |
| *Novozymes | Lipozyme | Franklinton |
| *Nucor | Nucor Steel Plate | Cofield |
| *Power Curbers | 5700-Series Slipform machine | Salisbury |
| *Safewaze | Arc Flash Construction Harness | Concord |
| *Sandvik Coromant | M5B90 Super Finishing Face Milling Cutter | Mebane |
| *Sealed Air | SEE Brand Bubble Wrap | Charlotte |
| *Shurtape | Duck Tape | Stony Point |
| *TCOM Aerostats | TCOM Aerostats | Elizabeth City |
| *The Magnet Guys | The Magnet Guys Promotional Magnets | Asheboro |
| *Timken | Taper Roller Bearings | Randleman |
| *Wolfspeed | Wolfspeed Silicon Carbide Wafers | Durham |
| 2 Hounds Design | No-Pull Harness | Indian Trail |
| 350 Cheese Straws | 350 Cheese Straws | Beaufort |
| Andrew Pearson Premium Glassworks | Fuzion Glass | Mt. Airy |
| Annihilare Medical Systems, Inc. | AoS-500 | Lincolnton |
| Artisan Leaf | Tobacco Leaf Tables | Wilson |
| Ashe County Cheese | Ashe County Cheese | West Jefferson |
| Atlantic Beach Sea Salt | Atlantic Beach Sea Salt | Atlantic Beach |
| Awaken NC | Beard Balm | |
| Benny T’s Vesta | Benny T’s Vesta Dry Hot Sauce | Raleigh |
| Bertie County Peanuts | Blister Fried Peanuts | Windsor |
| Bogue Sound Watermelons | Bogue Sound Watermelons | Morehead City |
| BREW Bikes | Custom Racing Frames | Creston |
| Bright Black | Durham Candle | Durham |
| Bright Farms | Sunny Crunch Lettuce | Hendersonville |
| Burn Bags USA | The Classic Bag | Summerfield |
| Bus Safety Solutions | Extended Stop Arm | Mocksville |
| C.E. Smith | Multi-sport Kayak Trailers | Greensboro |
| Cane Creek | DB Kitsuma Coil | Fletcher |
| Cargo Caddie | Cargo Caddie Golf Cart Utility Box | Asheboro |
| Carolina Beverage Company | Cheerwine | Salisbury |
| Carolina Textile District | Marigold Beanie | Burlington, Morganton, Nebo |
| Carriage House Tea | “Sex on the Beach” Herb & Fruit Tea | Asheboro |
| Chad’s Chai | Original Black Chai | Winston-Salem |
| Charlie’s Soap | Charlie’s Soap Laundry Liquid | Mayodan and Mount Holly |
| Clay Revolution | Project X Silver Clay | Madison |
| Cold War Concealment | Cold War Concealment Holsters | Rockingham |
| CoopWorx | CoopWorx Feed Silo | Wilmington |
| Country Water | Country Water Canned Wines | Mocksville |
| Designed for Joy | Designed for Joy Handbags | Raleigh |
| Detroit Speed | Detroit Speed Subframes | Mooresville |
| Diveplane | GeminAI | Raleigh |
| Elliott Guitars | Custom Guitars | Hiddenite |
| Fisherman Creations | Crab Pot Christmas Trees | Smyrna |
| Fjord | Static Rope Edge Protection (STREP) | Burlington |
| Fogwood Farm | Ghost Pepper Jam | Reidsville |
| Forza X1 | F-22 All-electric Center Console Motor Boat | Old Fort |
| Fun Mom Band | “Mom’s Fanny” Bag | Boone |
| Genixus | KinetiX | Concord/Kannapolis |
| George’s BBQ Sauce | George’s BBQ Sauce | Nashville |
| Gia Distillery | FJW Solera Style American Whiskey | Madison |
| Gulo Composites (KEIR Manufacturing) | GGA 38 Carbon Wheelset | Brevard |
| Holohan’s Hot Rod Shop | Steel Exhaust Hangers | Mooresville |
| HSM Machine Works | F-35 Fighter Jet Landing Gear Components | Leland |
| Industry Nine | Bicycle Wheels | Asheville |
| Jabin Beverage | Jabin Beverage | Durham |
| Jake & Meta Designs | Jake & Meta Designs Calendars | Morehead City |
| Jenni’s Ugly Chocolates | Sweet Potato Crunch Bonbon | Greenville |
| KALO Foods | Gluten-free Ginger Snap Cookie | Madison/Stokesdale |
| K-Vegas Nuts | Goober’s Mix | Kernersville |
| L.A. West | Sprinter Luxury Transportation Bus | Statesville |
| LazerEdge | NC Coasters | Mt. Airy |
| Lucid Bots | Lucid Bots Sherpa Drone | Charlotte |
| M7 Tuning | M7 Tuning Mini Lift Kits | Mooresville |
| MacLellan Bagpipes | MacLellan Bagpipes | Zebulon |
| Mamasita’s | Gourmet White Corn Tortilla Chips | Newport |
| Matthew Kelly Pottery | Matthew Kelly Pottery | Asheboro |
| Memory Lane Boutique | Custom Memory Bears | Cooleemee |
| Mojotone | NC-2 Acoustic Guitar Pickup | Burgaw |
| MusicMedic | Saxophone Pads | Wilmington |
| Night Owl National Stoneworks | Night Owl National Stoneworks Custom Desks | Eden |
| Ocean Therapy Potions | Bug Off Spray | Oak Island |
| Opie Way | Opie Way X HH Canvas Sneaker | Fletcher |
| Penny Portrait | Penny Portrait Kit | Apex |
| Piedmont Candy Company | Red Bird soft Peppermint Puffs | Lexington |
| Piedmont Pennies | Piedmont Pennies | Charlotte |
| Prints and Clay | Prints and Clay handcrafted pottery | Greenville |
| Queen City Crunch | Queen City Crunch Pretzels | Raleigh |
| Rescue Essentials | Slishman Traction Splint Generation 2 | Leland |
| Restor3d | 3-d Printed Kinos Axiom Total Ankle System | Durham |
| Rulmeca | Rulmeca Motorized Pulley | Wilmington |
| Sheets | Sheets Laundry Detergent | Mooresville |
| Shibumi | Shibumi Shade | Asheboro/Asheville |
| SilverQuicken Education | Questclub Kits | Chapel Hill |
| Southern Supreme | Southern Supreme Nutty Fruitcake | Bear Creek |
| SPEVCO | NC Be Pro Be Proud workforce education trailers | Pfafftown |
| Station 1978 Firehouse Peanuts | Station 1978 Firehouse Peanuts | Mount Airy |
| Still There Shine Sauce | Pig Polish | Charlotte |
| SylvanSport | SylvanSport VAST Travel Trailer | Brevard |
| The Beach Mule | The Beach Mule | Currie |
| Trio Labs | Micro-precision Metal Components | RTP/Durham |
| Troutman Chairs | Troutman Rocking Chairs | Troutman |
| US Legend Cars | The Legend Car | Harrisburg |
| U-TECK | Attick-Trax Illuminated | Fayetteville |
| Vestaron | Vestaron SPEAR | Durham |
| WaterDog Adventure Gear (WAG) Boarding Steps | WaterDog Adventure Gear (WAG)® Boarding Steps | Denver |
| Waynesville Soda Jerks | Waynesville Soda Jerks Sodas | Waynesville |
| Weldon Mills | Weldon Mills All-Malt Bourbon | Weldon |
| Wrightsock | Coolmesh II No Blister Sock | Burlington |
