Coolest Thing Made in Kansas

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The Kansas Manufacturing Council’s (KMC) is looking for the Coolest Thing Made In Kansas. This competition highlights the state’s manufacturing industry, which employs one out of 11 Kansas workers.

Any product that is made in Kansas using a manufacturing process qualifies for the competition.

The People’s Choice contest begins with product nominations. The KMC’s Board of Advisors then narrows the nominees to 16 to move on to a bracket-style tournament. The products compete in head-to-head match-ups for votes from the public. The ones receiving the most votes in each match-up advance to the next round. There are three rounds of voting. Click here to nominate your favorite Kansas-made products!

 

The People’s Choice winner will be announced during the Kansas Manufacturing Summit on Wednesday, October 9th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita. The 16 companies who make the tournament will be invited to display at the summit.

The Coolest Innovation contest highlights the many ways Kansas manufacturers improve their products and address crucial challenges. A panel of expert judges will review and score questionnaires completed by the companies regarding their nominated products. Click here to nominate your favorite innovative Kansas-made product!

The top four scoring Coolest Innovation products will be invited to present in-person to the expert panel on Tuesday, October 8th at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Wichita. The winner will be announced the next day during the summit.

People’s Choice/Innovation Award Nomination rules

Who Can Make a Nomination?

Everyone is encouraged to nominate their favorite products. There is no limit to the number of product nominations per person.

How Many Products Can a Company Have in the Competition?

Companies may only have one product featured in the top eight, so only one product nomination per company is encouraged.

How Often Can a Company or Product Win Coolest Thing Made in Kansas?

Companies may only have one product featured in the top four, so only one product nominations per company is encouraged.

Winning companies are prohibited from participating in the contest for one year, while each winning product is indefinitely prohibited from being nominated again.

How Will a Company Know I Nominated Something It Makes?

Companies with products nominated will be notified by the Kansas Manufacturing Council.

What Qualifies
as a Kansas-Made Product?

Products nominated can be from any sector of the state’s manufacturing industry.

The company does not have to be headquartered in Kansas, but the product must be manufactured in a Kansas-based facility.
The product must be made using a manufacturing process.

The Kansas Manufacturing Council will review each nomination to ensure these requirements are met. If for any reason the nomination does not meet these requirements the nominator will be notified.

Nominations for People’s Choice and Coolest Innovation 

Nomination Rules

  • Everyone is encouraged to nominate their favorite products. There is no limit to the number of product nominations per person.
  • Products nominated can be from any sector of the state’s manufacturing industry.
  • The company does not have to be headquartered in Kansas but the product must be manufactured in a Kansas-based facility.
  • The product must be made using a manufacturing process.
  • The Kansas Manufacturing Council will review each nomination to ensure these requirements are met. If for any reason, the nomination does not meet these requirements, the nominator will be notified.
  • Companies may only have one product featured in the top four, so only one product nomination per company is encouraged.
  • Winning companies are prohibited from participating in the contest for one year, while each winning product is indefinitely prohibited from being nominated again.
  • Companies with products nominated will be notified by the Kansas Manufacturing Council.
  • Products can be nominated for both categories but may only be in one of the category finals.

Click the button to nominate your favorite Kansas-made product. Nominations for the 2024 contest begin on August 1st and close on August 23rd at 5:00 pm CT.

voting for the people’s choice tournament

How Does Voting Work?

Nominations are closed for the 2024 Coolest Thing Made In Kansas – People’s Choice contest.

  • Voting in the bracket-style tournament will begin on August 29th at noon CT.
  • Products receiving the highest number of votes in each head to head match up will advance to the next round.
  • The number of votes received will be reset at the beginning of each round.

dates

2024 People’s Choice
Contest Calendar

Aug. 1st – Aug. 23rd: Submit Nominations

Aug. 29th – Sept. 11th:  Announce Tournament Bracket of 16, open voting. 

Sept. 12th – 25th:  Announce Bracket of 8, open voting

Sept. 26th – Oct. 8th: Announce Final Round, open voting

  • The final round is a popular vote of the final four products

Oct. 8th: Coolest Celebration Reception – all 16 products/companies will be invited

Oct. 9th: Announce People’s Choice 2024 Coolest Thing

2024 Coolest Innovation
Contest Calendar

Aug. 1st – Aug. 23rd: Submit Nominations

Aug. 26th – Sept. 11th: Nominated products submit Innovation questionnaires

Sept. 13th – 23rd: Judges review and score Innovation questionnaires

Oct. 1st: Announce Innovation award finalists

Oct. 8th: Innovation finalists present to judges

Oct. 9th: Announce Innovation award winner

 

About Us

 

The Kansas Manufacturing Council (KMC) is the leading advocacy organization for Kansas manufacturers and companies serving manufacturers, representing small and large manufacturers across the state.

The mission of KMC is to provide knowledge, resources and support in order to create a stronger and more prosperous manufacturing sector.

Through the Kansas Chamber, KMC has a powerful voice for the state’s manufacturing community to advocate for a policy agenda that helps manufacturers compete in the global economy and create jobs across Kansas.

Our outstanding staff of policy experts provides unmatched access and information on the key issues affecting your business and bottom line. We are on the front lines of a wide range of policy battles from immigration reform and labor relations to energy and the environment to trade policy and taxes. At every turn, we are working on behalf of manufacturers in Kansas to advance policies that help manufacturers do what they do best: create economic strength and jobs.

Contact the KMC staff at KMC@KansasChamber.org to learn more.

Sponsorships

The Coolest Thing Made in Kansas competition provides incredible marketing opportunities for growing companies all across Kansas. There are various levels of investment, so you can pick the package that works best for you. Click here to view all of the options.

The presenting sponsor of the Coolest Thing Made in Kansas contest is Forvis Mazars. A leading global professional services network, Forvis Mazars ranks among the largest public accounting firms in the United States with firm’s 7,000 dedicated team members providing an Unmatched Client Experience® through the delivery of assurance, tax, and consulting services for clients in all 50 states and internationally through the global network.

Contact the KMC staff at KMC@KansasChamber.org or (785) 357-6321 to learn more about sponsoring the Coolest Thing Made In Kansas contest.

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