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Three businesses from the Capitol Region have been named finalists in the 2025 Coolest Things Made in New York contest. The competition, organized by the Business Council of New York State, showcases innovative products from across the state. The top 16 businesses were announced this week, and among them are Scarano Boat Building in Albany, Townsend Leather in Johnstown, and GlobalFoundries in Malta. Scarano Boat Building is recognized for its custom water vessels, Townsend Leather for its 'Classic Cowhide' leather, and GlobalFoundries for its silicon photonics platform.
Voting for the current round is underway and will continue through Sunday (August 10), after which the quarterfinals will begin. The competition follows a tournament-style bracket, culminating in an award ceremony at the Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing on September 18. The public can cast their votes once per device per day on the Coolest Thing Made in New York website.
Last year's winner was a vehicle-mounted thermal camera made by NightRide Thermal Inc. of Brooklyn. This year, 33 products are competing, with the most entries coming from Central New York. The contest not only highlights the state's manufacturing industry but also promotes the various career opportunities available in the sector. According to NEWS10 ABC, the competition emphasizes the creativity and innovation of New York's manufacturers.