2024 Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest is down to 8 finalists – 2 are from Bend – and you can vote

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The first round of voting in the 2024 Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest concluded Monday, narrowing the list of finalists to eight. They include a robot, an airplane, a blanket, a multitool, a chainsaw chain, a hydrogen generator, a UAV fuel cell and ice cream.

Voting began two weeks ago with 16 finalists representing a wide variety of products manufactured throughout the state, from Pendleton to Tillamook. The second round of voting, which will narrow the finalists to four, has begun. It will conclude at noon on Sept. 30.

The Coolest Thing Made in Oregon contest, now in its second year, is presented by Oregon Business & Industry in partnership with Here is Oregon. Oregonians can download a printable bracket and learn about all of the Coolest Thing finalists on OBI’s website here. They should go here to vote for their favorites.

An expert panel chose this year’s finalists from among more than 100 products nominated by Oregonians over the spring and summer. The manufacturer of the winning product will receive formal recognition and enjoy bragging rights for producing Oregon’s coolest thing. At least until next year, when Oregonians will identify a new coolest thing.

The eight remaining finalists and the company locations:

• Agility Robotics’ Digit (Tangent)
• Element 1’s Hydrogen Generator (Bend)
• Epic Aircraft’s E1000 GX (Bend)
• Leatherman’s Multitool (Portland)
• Northwest UAV’s UAV Fuel Cell (McMinnville)
• Oregon Tool’s Diamond Chainsaw Chain (Portland)
• Pendleton Woolen Mill’s Yakima Wool Blanket (Pendleton)
• Tillamook’s Ice Cream (Tillamook)

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OBI is a statewide association representing businesses from a wide variety of industries and from each of Oregon’s 36 counties. In addition to being the statewide chamber of commerce, OBI is the state affiliate for the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation. Our 1,600 member companies, more than 80% of which are small businesses, employ more than 250,000 Oregonians. Oregon’s private sector businesses help drive a healthy, prosperous economy for the benefit of everyone.