The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry has kicked off its annual “Coolest Thing Made in PA” bracket. This bracket highlights and promotes Pennsylvania-made products.
In 2025, the Sheetz MTO was voted champion, with the Crayola crayon taking second place. Before that, a Primanti Bros. sandwich took back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.
For 2026, 56 Pennsylvania-made products are in the bracket, including two products that are made in Erie and Meadville.
Which items on the ‘Coolest Thing Made in PA’ are from the Erie area?
Representing Erie in the 2026 contest is Smith’s hot dogs. Acutec Aerospace Components will represent Crawford County.
Acutec is a woman-owned company based in Meadville and in Saegertown that specializes in precision machining while manufacturing aerospace parts. These products include parts for landing gear, braking systems, engines, power generation, hydraulics and more.
In the first round, Acutec is competing against the Eat N’ Park Smiley Cookie, which originated from Warner’s Bakery in Titusville.
Meanwhile, Smith’s will take on DutchwareGear Hammocks in the first round.
Smith’s is an Erie-based company that specializes in hot dogs, sausages, hams and more.
Both the Smith’s hot dogs and Acutec aerospace components are in the Liberty section of the bracket, and could compete against each other if both products advance to the fourth round before the semi-final.
How to vote in the ‘Coolest Thing Made in PA’ bracket
To vote, visit the PA Chamber’s X page. Additional votes can be cast on the chamber’s Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles.
The cumulative vote leader will be declared the winner.
The first round of voting is open from March 19 until March 23 at 11 a.m. The following rounds will take place at the following times:
- Battle back round: March 23 at noon to March 24 at noon. This year includes a round in which first-round losers can battle back to return to the second round.
- Second round: March 24 at 1 p.m. to March 25 at 4 p.m.
- Third round: March 26 at 9 a.m. to March 27 at 4 p.m.
- Fourth round: March 31 at 9 a.m. to April 1 at 4 p.m.
- Semi-finals: April 2 at 9 a.m. to April 3 at 4 p.m.
- Championship: April 6 at 9 a.m. to April 7 at 4 p.m.
