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RALEIGH – The North Carolina Chamber has announced the 10 finalists—five for the medium-to-large business category and five for the small business category—for its annual “Coolest Thing Made in NC” online competition, which began with 130 nominees.

Among the nominees in the medium-to-large business category is Nucor Steel of Hertford County.

Go to coolestthingmadeinnc.com to vote for the coolest thing made in North Carolina. The last day to vote is Thursday, Sept. 28.

The winning product will be revealed on Thursday, Oct. 5, the day before National Manufacturing (MFG) Day. October is Manufacturing Month, and MFG Day, organized nationally by the NAM and The Manufacturing Institute, highlights the rewarding career opportunities of modern manufacturing.

This is the fourth year that the NC Chamber has held the popular, public-driven contest, which spotlights North Carolina’s cutting-edge manufacturing industry—an industry that generates more than 17% of the gross state product and employs more than 10% of the state’s workforce.

“Congratulations to our impressive finalists. As we always say at the NC Chamber: what’s made in North Carolina makes North Carolina,” said NC Chamber President and CEO Gary Salamido. “With roughly 32,000 votes cast in this contest so far, it’s clear that North Carolinians share the Chamber’s love for our state’s innovative manufacturing community. This celebrated competition is a way to honor all our state’s manufacturers – the backbone of North Carolina’s economy for more than a century.”