After more than 87,000 total votes, we’re down to the top four of the Coolest Thing Made in Connecticut competition. 

Semifinal voting is underway now. The matchups are: 

The single-elimination, bracket-style competition is being led by the CBIA Foundation in partnership with the Connecticut Office of Manufacturing and CONNSTEP and made possible through the generous support of CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. 

The competition is an opportunity to showcase Connecticut’s vibrant manufacturing sector.

World-Class Workforce

“These four companies—and all 16 finalists—highlight the best Connecticut has to offer,” said CBIA president and CEO Chris DiPentima.

“And this is a chance to celebrate not only the products they manufacture, but the world-class workers who make them.”

During an appearance on Fox 61’s morning news, Connecticut Department of Economic Development commissioner Daniel O’Keefe noted the nearly 5,000 manufacturing companies and nearly 160,000 employees that make up the workforce. 

“We make very complicated things here. We’ve been able to develop this very specialized workforce over the last 100 years that make these highly engineered products,” he said. 

Semifinal voting is open through Sept. 17. 

The overall winner will be announced at the Oct. 2 Connecticut Manufacturing Summit at the Connecticut Convention Center.

A group of business leaders nominated the 16 products in the first year of what will be an annual competition.

Nominations are open now for next year’s contest.