Voting opens for ‘Coolest Thing Made in Illinois’

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Voting has begun in the “Makers Madness” contest to determine the “Coolest Thing Made in Illinois.”

The contest sponsored by the Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is a bracket-style tournament to highlight many different products made in Illinois, from food to military flashlights.

First-round online voting is open through March 8. It includes 259 products which will be winnowed to 16. Voters may cast up to five votes per day in the first round as the field narrows. The Coolest Thing Made in Illinois will be crowned in an awards ceremony April 1 at the Governor’s Mansion.

Manufacturing generates more than $304 billion in statewide economic output, making up 12 percent of the state’s Gross Domestic Product. That’s more than any other industry. It employs 592,000 but the association says 300,000 Baby Boom generation workers will retire in the near future, leaving a worker shortage and skills gap.

The association worked with lawmakers and Gov. J.B. Pritzker last year to extend a tax credit for research and development and create an apprenticeship tax credit.

___

Online

Makers Madness voting: https://makersmadnessil.com/