Elevate Rapid City and the Black Hills Manufacturing Alliance are excited to launch the first annual Coolest Thing Made in the Black Hills competition. This friendly, bracket-style contest showcases the innovation, creativity, and skill that define our region’s manufacturing community.

From groundbreaking technology to handcrafted goods, local manufacturers are invited to submit their most impressive products for a chance to claim the title of Coolest Thing Made in the Black Hills.

Manufacturing is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Black Hills, with more than 150 establishments employing over 3,000 people. These businesses fuel our economy, create skilled jobs, and shape the future of our community. The Coolest Thing Made in the Black Hills is more than just a title — it’s a way to shine a spotlight on the people and products driving our region forward.

Get Involved

• Manufacturers: Submit your product for a chance to compete.

• Community Members: Cast your vote and help decide the winner.

• Supporters: Share the competition and celebrate local manufacturing excellence.

Submit Your Product

What qualifies as a "Black Hills made" product?

Products submitted to the Coolest Thing Made in the Black Hills may be from any sector of the Black Hills manufacturing industry.

The company that makes the product does not have to be headquartered in the Black Hills, but the product must be manufactured in a Black Hills-based facility.

The product submitted must be made using a manufacturing process. For example, a restaurant making a “made-to-order” pizza would not qualify, but a food manufacturer or processor that mass-produces frozen pizzas would qualify. If you're not sure that a product qualifies, contact us at kallie.ruland@elevaterapidcity.com.

Elevate Rapid City staff will review each submission to ensure these requirements are met. If, for any reason, the nomination does not meet these requirements, the product will not be entered into the competition. Because of time constraints, applicants will not be notified.​

May a company submit more than one product?

Yes, multiple products of a company may be submitted; however, only one product per company will be selected by a committee appointed by Elevate Rapid City staff for voting in the first round of the tournament.

How do you vote and how does a product advance in the competition's brackets?

Voting is open to the public. A voter may vote once per match-up round.  Votes will be entered on the website only and not by any other method.

Products will compete in weekly head-to-head match ups.

Products receiving the highest number of votes in the bracket head-to-head match ups will advance rounds to top 8, 4 and the championship.

The 2 products that advance to the championship round of the tournament will compete for the most votes during the last week of the competition.

The product receiving the most votes in the final round will be announced as the winner at the Elevate Rapid City Manufacturing and Trade Summit on October 2, 2025. Register for the Summit here and contact Kamryn Wainwright if you're interested in sponsoring.

The number of votes received will be reset at the beginning of each round.

What is expected of a participating company?

Your submission must include a brief, company-approved description, product image and company logo to be considered.

(Please seek the necessary approvals of the appropriate headquarters or management personnel to release product descriptions, images and logos to Elevate Rapid City to use in public promotion of the contest and vote generation.)

Final 4 product contenders will be invited to host a conference-style table display at the Elevate Rapid City Manufacturing and Trade Summit to share more information about your product and company.

How often may a company or product win the Coolest Thing Made in Rapid City?

A winning company must sit out from competing in the tournament for one year and a winning product cannot participate in the tournament again.