Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is looking for the coolest thing made in Illinois

Posted on February 2, 2023

*Mark Denzler, IMA President and CEO spoke during a news conference. (Photo courtesy: WJBC/File)*

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – Soon enough, we’ll be filling out our brackets. But – that’s not confined to basketball.

The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association is again putting on Makers Madness, a bracket-style competition to find the coolest thing made in Illinois. Rivian’s electric vehicles are undoubtedly cool; but layoff news could affect the number of votes that company gets.

“Rivian was certainly our champion last year, with their new electric truck, and they employ about 6,000 people, I think, in the Bloomington-Normal area, and they are certainly an economic driver,” said Mark Denzler, Illinois Manufacturers’ Association president, at a statehouse news conference to announce the fourth edition of the contest. “But we remain optimistic, and I think Rivian will continue to do great things.”

So – what’s cool? Denzler says it’s in the eye of the beholder.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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