Florida Chamber of Commerce and FloridaCommerce Announce Top 2 Finalists in 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Florida Competition
Finalists to be recognized at manufacturing facility tours during Manufacturing Week in October
The competition went from manufacturing in all 67 counties down to two. The Florida Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with FloridaCommerce, today announced the Top 2 finalists in the second annual Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition following statewide voting that began with more than 100 Florida-made products representing manufacturers across all 67 counties.
The Top 2 finalists are:
| Company | Product | County |
| Northrop Grumman | E-2D Advanced Hawkeye | St. Johns County |
| Arthrex | TightRope® PRO Implant | Collier County |
And the competition is leaving the ballot box and heading to the factory floor.
Manufacturing Tours
During Manufacturing Week in October, the Florida Chamber and FloridaCommerce will tour the facilities of each finalist, giving invited business leaders, community partners, elected officials, and members of the media a firsthand look at the people, technology, and processes behind two of Florida’s most innovative manufactured products.
The first tour will take place on Oct. 5, with a visit to Northrop Grumman in St. Augustine to spotlight the people, innovation, and manufacturing behind one of our finalists, and we’ll soon be scheduling a visit to Arthrex. Each event will feature finalist recognition, remarks from Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson and Florida Chief Manufacturing Officer Jason Mahon, media availability, and a guided tour of the manufacturing facility.
Oct. 5- Northrop Grumman
Location: 5000 US 1 North, St. Augustine, FL 32095
Time: 9:00 am – Noon
Arthrex- Tour details to come
“The Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition is about celebrating the people who make things in Florida and the companies creating opportunity in communities across our state,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “These two finalists have earned the opportunity to compete for the title, and we’re excited to take people inside their operations and showcase the innovation and talent behind these Florida-made products.”
From 100-plus products to two finalists
The 2026 competition began with more than 100 Florida-made products submitted from manufacturers across all 67 counties. Through multiple rounds of public voting, Floridians narrowed the field to 32, then 16, eight, and four finalists before selecting the Top 2.
“As a top 10 manufacturing state with more than 430,000 employees in the industry, Florida’s manufacturers are building products that compete in markets around the world,” said Jason Mahon, Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer for FloridaCommerce. “The Coolest Thing Made in Florida competition allows us to celebrate our innovative companies while showcasing the opportunities available in modern manufacturing.”
The competition highlights the creativity, innovation, and economic impact of Florida’s manufacturing industry and supports the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Florida 2030 Blueprint goal of making Florida a Top 5 state for manufacturing jobs by 2030.
The Top 2 finalists will compete in the final round of public voting Oct. 2-23, giving Floridians one final opportunity to choose the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Florida.
Vote for your favorite Florida-made product at CoolestThingMadeInFlorida.com.
The winner will be announced Oct. 28 at the Florida Chamber’s Future of Florida Forum and Annual Meeting in Orlando.
Media interested in attending the Oct. 5 tour must complete the online form and contact Taylore Maxey, Director of Media and Public Relations, at the Florida Chamber of Commerce for press credentials by NOON ET on Saturday, October 3, 2026. She can be reached at tmaxey@flchamber.com.