The Coolest thing made in Arkansas

What’s the coolest thing made in Arkansas?

That’s the question Arkansans are being asked to answer as part of the 2023 “Coolest Thing Made in Arkansas” campaign. Hosted by Arkansas Business, in partnership with the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and Entergy, the promotion seeks to highlight the state’s manufacturing sector and the vital role it plays on both the national and international scene.

Bonnie Jacoby, Vice President of Sales and Training at Arkansas Business, said the campaign launched last year after a casual conversation she had with Randy Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.

The 2022 inaugural competition resulted in 16 finalists in a single-elimination bracket-style contest. Those products ranged from snack foods to industrial equipment pioneered by Arkansas-based companies like Nabholz and Nucor. The winner, however, was a clear choice for the Coolest Thing Made in Arkansas – Lockheed Martin’s High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS.

The HIMARS is produced in Camden and has received widespread international attention as a critical part of the U.S. assistance package to Ukraine in its defense against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Jacoby said the HIMARS was a bit of a surprise winner of the 2022 competition because many Arkansans – and even a few Lockheed Martin officials – had no idea this sophisticated weapons system was produced right here in Arkansas. Jacoby stressed, however, that Arkansas products don’t have to be as impressive as the HIMARS to become a finalist in the Coolest Thing Made in Arkansas campaign.

The campaign’s primary goal is to highlight the products made in Arkansas and the needs they fill not just within the state, but across the nation and globe. Jacoby hopes the effort will encourage Arkansans to be even prouder of the state’s manufacturing sector.

The nomination period for the 2023 Coolest Thing Made in Arkansas Campaign remains open through June 2. Nominating a product couldn’t be easier – just visit www.coolestthinginarkansas.com and cast your vote. This year’s winner will be announced in October.

Again, for more information on this year’s campaign, and to nominate an Arkansas-made product, visit www.coolesthinginarkansas.com.