The Iowa Association of Business and Industry and MidWestOne are hosting the 2025 Coolest Thing Made in Iowa competition. The winner will be announced at ABI’s annual Taking Care of Business Conference, which takes place June 10-12 in Council Bluffs.

“Iowa is home to nearly 222,000 individuals who are employed by thousands of Iowa manufacturers,” Nicole Crain, ABI president, said in a press release. “This contest highlights not only the cool products made here in our state, but also the creativity and entrepreneurship behind the people that craft them.”

The program was launched in 2024 to highlight Iowa’s manufacturing industry, which contributes more than $43 billion in economic output to the state annually, the release said.

Any product manufactured in Iowa qualifies for the contest. Nominations will be accepted until April 18 at www.coolestthingia.com. Nominees will be announced April 28.

Following the nomination period, a popular vote will determine the top 16 products. Products will compete against one another in head-to-head matchups, and the products that receive the highest votes in each matchup will advance to the next round. Voting is open to the public.