CHARLOTTE, N.C. — North Carolina has a lot of cool things but can you think of the coolest thing that comes from the Tar Heel State?
If you have something in mind, nominate for the "Coolest Thing Made in North Carolina" contest. Previous semifinalists include Pepsi, Smithfield bacon and Mt. Olive pickles, just to name a few. The NC Chamber launched the competition in 2020 to honor North Carolina's manufacturers and raise awareness about the rewarding careers in modern manufacturing.
Last year's winner was the Western Star 49X vocational truck, which is built in Rowan County. The other finalists included the HondaJet EliteS, Caterpillar's CAT 983M wheel loader and George's BBQ Sauce.
To level the playing field with bigger companies, the chamber introduced a new small business category for this year's contest. Click here to learn more about the contest, including rules and how to nominate your favorite product.
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