Madison Reporter

Nominations have opened for the annual “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” contest, marking its tenth year. The competition is organized by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) in partnership with Johnson Financial Group. The contest aims to highlight the manufacturing sector’s role in the state’s economy and the contributions of its workforce.

Last year, manufacturing contributed more than $73.7 billion to Wisconsin’s gross domestic product and generated about $42.8 billion in earnings for workers in the industry.

Kurt R. Bauer, President & CEO of WMC, said, “Our manufacturers drive the Wisconsin and national economies forward. The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin isn’t just about the products; it’s about the people who make those products and their contributions to our communities.”

Since 2016, over 1.5 million votes have been cast for more than one thousand products as part of this contest. Past winners include a range of items such as soda, beverage dispensers, firetrucks, cranes, motorcycles, military vehicles, robotic carts, rifles, and kringle.

WMC was the first organization to launch a statewide “Coolest” contest ten years ago. Since then, similar contests have been established by 25 other state chambers and manufacturing groups.

“Wisconsin has the best manufacturers in the world, and it’s always our pleasure to highlight the fantastic – and truly cool – products they make,” Bauer said. “We can’t wait to crown the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin!”

Nominations are being accepted from August 25 at www.madeinwis.com for any product manufactured within Wisconsin. There are no restrictions on company size for entry into the competition.

Jim Popp, President and CEO of Johnson Financial Group, stated: “As we embark on this special 10th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to recognizing the ingenuity and hard work of our local manufacturers. This contest serves as a platform to showcase their contributions to the economy and to inspire the next generation of manufacturing leaders. We are honored to continue this tradition and look forward to another year of incredible submissions and inspiring stories. This contest not only highlights the remarkable products and technologies created right here in our state, but also fosters a sense of pride among our manufacturers.”

The nomination period runs through September 12. Afterward, a public vote will determine which 16 products move forward into a bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness. In each round of voting at www.madeinwis.com, products will compete head-to-head until a winner is chosen.

The winner will be announced during WMC’s Business Day event at Monona Terrace in Madison on October 23.

For further details or nominations visit www.madeinwis.com.