Annual contest to determine Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin kicks off

MADISON — Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) — the combined state chamber and manufacturers’ association — and Johnson Financial Group are again partnering to host a contest to determine the ‘Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.’ The popular competition highlights Wisconsin’s robust manufacturing industry, which contributes over $71 billion in total economic output to the state. This year, the contest organizers are refreshing the program with a new logo and rebranded website as a nod to the modernization of the manufacturing industry as a whole. The ninth annual contest will culminate by crowning a Wisconsin-made product as the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin.

“Wisconsin is home to nearly 500,000 men and women who are employed by our thousands of manufacturers,” said WMC President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “This contest highlights not only the cool products made in our state, but also the entrepreneurship and work behind each product. Our manufacturers are the best in the country, and we have a great opportunity to underscore their contributions to our economy, the high-paying careers they create, and the innovative, necessary products they make.”

Any product that is manufactured in Wisconsin qualifies for the contest, and nominations will be accepted starting on Aug. 19 at the new website, www.madeinwis.com. 

WMC and Johnson Financial Group have partnered together for this contest since 2016, and Wisconsinites have cast over one million votes since its inception. Over a thousand products representing a wide array of industries have been nominated over the years, and winning products have included beverage dispensers, firetrucks, cranes, motorcycles, military vehicles, robotic carts, rifles, and even kringle.

Following the nomination period from Aug. 19 through Sept. 6, a popular vote will determine the Top 16 products that will be placed in a bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness. Products will compete against one another in head-to-head matchups, and the products that receive the highest votes in each matchup will advance to the next round. Manufacturers, consumers, employees and other Wisconsinites are encouraged to vote once per day, per device through the rounds of voting.

This year’s Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin will be announced at WMC’s Business Day in Madison event on Oct. 17.