From masking tape to hearing aids, what's the coolest "thing" Minnesotans manufacture?
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce is trying to find exactly what that with its new Coolest Thing Made in Minnesota contest, which is taking nominations until Aug. 15. Any product manufactured in Minnesota is eligible for nomination, and companies are not required to be members of the chamber. Nominees must have been in business for at least two years and have a North American Industry Classification System code between 31 and 33 — identifying a business within the manufacturing sector.
On Sept. 3, the Minnesota Chamber will announce the first bracket of nominations for the public to vote on. The public will then vote on products by head-to-head matchups in five rounds until Oct. 4. The winner will be announced at the 2024 Manufacturers’ Summit, taking place from 9:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the Mall of America.
"Minnesota is a state of innovation that has brought many remarkable and life-changing products to the market, said Doug Loon, president and CEO of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “It is this innovation that has built our economy and supports our [cherished] quality of life."
Manufacturing accounted for $53.7 billion, or 12%, of the state's gross domestic product and provided more than 323,000 jobs (11.3%) of statewide employment in 2022, according to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development. About 40% of the 500 companies based in Minnesota are involved in manufacturing, including 3M, CHS, General Mills, Land O'Lakes, Ecolab, Hormel Foods, Polaris and Fastenal. About 8,625 companies in Minnesota manufacture products.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce was the largest chamber of commerce organization in the Twin Cities in 2023 with more than 6,300 members, according to Business Journal research.
