How to help celebrate Coolest Things Made in Illinois QC

What is the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois? 

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) seeks to answer that question in its fourth annual “Makers Madness”’ contest which launched on Groundhog Day. And it needs the public’s help to do it. 

That includes Quad Cities manufacturers and their fans who are invited to take part in a bracket-style online voting “tournament” that allows the public to decide what’s the Coolest Thing Made in Illinois in 2023. 

Nominations now are being accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com. That’s also where voting will take place throughout the contest. Any product manufactured in Illinois can be nominated. While qualifying products must be made in Illinois, the manufacturers’ headquarters do not need to be in state, according to the IMA, the only statewide association dedicated exclusively to advocating, promoting and strengthening the manufacturing sector in Illinois.

Nominations close at 11:59 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 19. Voting to narrow the field to the Top 16 products will begin Tuesday, Feb. 21, with consecutive rounds of voting taking place each week. The contest will culminate with an awards ceremony on Wednesday, March 29, at the Illinois Governor’s Mansion in Springfield, when The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be named.

Presented by Comcast Business, “The competition celebrates the incredible work of manufacturers across Illinois, which have long served as the backbone of our state’s economy,” the IMA said in a news release.

The association cited a recent study that showed that manufacturing has a total economic impact in Illinois of between $580 billion and $611 billion every year – the largest share of any industry to the state’s Gross Domestic Product.

The data for the Quad Cities are equally impressive, according to study results the IMA shared during an August stop in the Quad Cities.

In the Illinois Quad Cities region, manufacturing pumps $6 billion a year into the region’s economy, making it the epicenter of manufacturing in Illinois, said IMA President and CEO Mark Denzler.

Each year, local manufacturers generate $4.9 billion in economic output in Rock Island County; $303.1 million in Mercer County and $752.5 million in Henry County, according to the data collected and analyzed by economists at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. 

“This contest is a celebration of the innovation and ingenuity that sets the manufacturing industry apart, as well as the hard-working men and women on shop floors across Illinois who turn dreams into reality,” Mr. Denzler said in a news release announcing the Coolest Things contest. 

He added: “We are excited to spotlight the many amazing products made in Illinois and look forward to a friendly and spirited competition. We hope this contest is also a reminder about the importance of investing in American manufacturing to build strong communities and secure economic growth for generations to come.”

Sean McCarthy, Comcast’s regional vice president of business development and strategic Initiatives, said: “Comcast is proud to sponsor Makers Madness again this year. Not only does it showcase the vitality of Illinois’ manufacturing industry, it puts innovative products and services made right here on display for the world to see. We’re also proud to help Illinois manufacturers continue to lead and prosper by providing state-of-the-art connectivity and technology.”

Past winners include Rivian’s all-electric R1T truck made in Normal, the first all-electric truck in production featuring four motors, with one powering each wheel; Self-Regulating Traffic Signal Heater by Termico Technologies in Elk Grove Village, which uses conductive particles to heat traffic signals so they remain free of ice and snow and traffic can safely navigate our roadways; and the 797F Mining Truck manufactured by Caterpillar, Inc. in Decatur, the world’s largest mechanical truck.

Timeline of events:

  • Feb. 2 – Feb. 19: Nominations accepted at www.makersmadnessil.com.
  • Feb. 21 – March 5: Voting opens to determine Top 16.
  • March 7 – March 12: First round of voting to determine Top 8.
  • March 14 – March 19: Second round of voting to determine Top 4.
  • March 21 – March 26: Final round of voting.
  • March 29: Winner of The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois announced.

 Source Illinois Manufacturing Association / https://ima-net.org/.

Get the free QCBJ email newsletter

Stay up-to-date with the people, companies and issues that impact business in the  Quad Cities area.