The N.C. Chamber announced today that Council Tool Company’s Scout Hatchet is among the 30 semifinalists for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, which began with 88 nominees. In the first round of voting, 8,200 votes were cast across the field of candidates.
This year’s contest has 10 semifinalists in each of three categories: Small Business (1 to 99 employees); Medium Business (100 to 999 employees); and Large Business (1000+ employees).
This is the seventh year that the Chamber has held the popular, public-driven contest, which spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 15 percent of the gross state product and employs more than 8.9 percent of the state’s workforce.
“This year’s products highlight the diversity of North Carolina’s incredible manufacturing industry—including generators, food and beverage products, chillers, jets, and much more,” said Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “We are grateful to North Carolina’s manufacturing community – the backbone of our state’s economy for more than a century. And we are so excited to congratulate Council Tool Company for becoming a semifinalist! As we always say at the N.C. Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina.”
Allegacy Financial is serving as the Presenting Sponsor of the online competition, and Business North Carolina is this year’s Media Partner. As the exclusive North Carolina affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the NC Chamber knows that a strong manufacturing industry is crucial to the state’s economic and competitive success. The North Carolina Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NCMEP) is collaborating on the annual contest as a Supporting Organization.
How to Vote:
Go to coolestthingmadeinnc.com to vote daily for the coolest thing made in NC. Round 2 of voting closes Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 9 p.m., with the top five finalists announced Monday, Sept. 21. The winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 1, the day before National Manufacturing (MFG) Day. October is Manufacturing Month, and MFG Day, organized nationally by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, highlights the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.
Join the contest’s social media campaign by following #CoolestThingMadeinNC. In addition to receiving a trophy, the victorious company and product will be featured in NC Chamber and Business North Carolina publications, podcasts, social and digital media, among additional statewide publicity efforts. Information on last year’s winner and runners-up can be found here.
