The Iowa Association of Business and Industry (ABI) is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa. The contest is now in its third year and was created to highlight the ingenuity and breadth of manufacturing in our state. Last year, four local companies, including Volquartsen Firearms, AAI Spalding, Anchor Shock, and Puck Fire, were among the 32 products that made it through the initial nomination period. In the contest’s inaugural year, Dobson Pipe Organ Builders of Lake City advanced to the finals. Iowans have until March 27 to log on to www.coolestthingia.com and submit their ideas for what they consider the most interesting thing made in Iowa. ABI staff will sort through all the submissions and announce the nominees for this year’s contest on April 6. Several rounds of head-to-head voting matchups begin on April 7 and will winnow the field until a winner is announced at the ABI’s annual conference.
