Aug 19, 2024 12:00 am - 4:00 pm

Coolest Thing Manufactured in Oregon & Yamhill County - Deadline to Enter for Yamhill County!

Do you make the Coolest Thing?

We are excited to invite you to an incredible opportunity to showcase the amazing products made right here. Oregon Business and Industry's The Coolest Thing Made in Oregon competition is back for its second year, and we are eager to spotlight the innovative and exceptional products our local manufacturers create.

MEDP, The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce, and McMinnville Industrial Promotions, in collaboration with the News-Register, are also hosting a local competition to find the "Coolest Thing Made in Yamhill County." This is a fantastic chance for our community to celebrate and recognize the hard work and creativity of our manufacturers.

Why Participate?
• Showcase Your Products: Gain visibility and recognition for your innovative products.
• Boost Local Pride: Highlight the ingenuity and craftsmanship present in Yamhill County.
• Engage the Community: Get the community involved in voting and supporting local businesses.

How to Nominate?
Anyone can nominate a product, and we highly encourage manufacturers to nominate their own creations. Few people know how cool a product is more than the people who make it!

Nomination Requirements:
• Products must be made in Oregon using a manufacturing process (handmade products do not qualify).
• For our local competition, the product must be manufactured in Yamhill County.

Nominate in BOTH Contests:

Yamhill County Local Entry Deadline: August 19th, 2024

Nomination Link: Submit Coolest Thing In Yamhill County

After nominations close, a group of finalists will be selected. For Yamhill County entries, News-Register subscribers and others will then vote to choose the final selection of our “Coolest Thing.” All finalists, along with other notable local products, will be featured in a special section of the News-Register dedicated to manufacturing in Yamhill County. Let’s Make Yamhill County Shine! Local Winners will also be recognized at MEDP's Annual McMinnovation Awards on October 2, 2024, and in conjunction with National Manufacturing Day on October 4, 2024.

This competition is not just about finding the coolest product; it's about celebrating the vibrant manufacturing community that drives our local economy. We look forward to seeing the incredible innovations from our members and the community. If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Let’s show Oregon why McMinnville and Yamhill County are the coolest places for manufacturing!

Why celebrate manufacturing?

Oregon’s manufacturing sector employs more than 214,000 people and contributes $33 billion annually to the state’s gross domestic product, according to a 2021 ECONorthwest study funded by OBI. You don’t get numbers like this without manufacturing a lot of things, in terms of both volume and variety.

Oregon’s manufacturing sector has helped make the state an export powerhouse. As noted in OBI’s inaugural Oregon Competitiveness Book, the per-capita value of Oregon’s exports was the nation’s third highest in 2022. Oregon exports more than $8,000 in goods for every one of the state’s residents. The value of Oregon’s exports topped $34 billion in 2022.

Manufacturing pays well, too. On a per-hour basis, manufacturing workers in Oregon made more than those in 39 states in 2021.
(excerpt from OBI Coolest Thing)

Thank you,
Your MEDP Team