‘Coolest Thing Made in Oregon’ contest returns, submission window open now

OREGON (KTVZ) -- Oregon Business & Industry has announced the fourth annual 'Coolest Thing Made in Oregon' contest is open now through July.

State residents will have the opportunity to vote for the coolest product manufactured within Oregon. The nomination window for products is now open and will close on July 10th.

The contest will select 16 finalists from the nominated products, with these finalists to be announced in September. These selected products will then compete in a tournament-style bracket, where Oregonians will participate in four rounds of voting to determine a winner. The winning manufacturer will receive formal recognition and bragging rights for their product.

Manufacturing plays a significant role in Oregon's economy. Nearly 180,000 Oregonians were employed in manufacturing businesses in 2025. The median manufacturing job pays roughly 17% more than positions in other economic sectors, according to a 2024 ECONorthwest study. Manufactured goods also contributed significantly to Oregon's $28 billion in exports last year.

Products must be manufactured substantially within Oregon and must be legal for purchase in all 50 states to qualify for the contest. Anyone is eligible to nominate a product and manufacturers are encouraged to submit their own items.

Epic Aircraft's E1000 GX was the winner in 2024 and Freres Engineered Wood's Mass Ply Panels won in 2023.

The winner of the contest will be announced at OBI's Vision Oregon Event on October 28th.

You can learn more about the contest and nominate products by clicking here.