News & Insights

We’re changing the narrative of the manufacturing industry one story at a time. CMTA’s award-winning storytelling team showcases California’s 30,000 manufacturers by uplifting the voices of our makers. Find industry news and the stories from those “Making California” below. 

Manufacturing in the News: May 2025

Scroll through CMTA's round-up of manufacturing-related news and updates from May 2025. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month.   Latest Industry...

Nationally Recognized Firm Eide Bailly Joins CMTA

Sacramento, Calif. –The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Eide Bailly to the organization today. Eide Bailly is a certified public accounting and business advisory firm, providing leaders of all levels with solutions...

California-Made Gift Guide for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day

California-Made Picks for Mother’s Day & Father’s Day   With over 35,000 manufacturers across California, you're bound to find the perfect gift that’s thoughtful, high-quality, and locally made. This Mother’s and Father’s Day, surprise them with something...

Manufacturing in the News: April 2025

Scroll through CMTA's round-up of manufacturing-related news and updates from April 2025. The articles below don’t reflect the views of the manufacturing industry or CMTA. They are a collection of the latest industry news from this past month.   Latest Industry...

First Major Tankless Brand Assembled in U.S. Joins CMTA

Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Rinnai to the organization. Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974. With a global perspective to...

Porsche Consulting Joins CMTA’s Member Network

Sacramento, Calif. – The California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) welcomed new member Porsche Consulting to the organization in March. The consulting firm is a leading management consultancy from Germany with offices located around the world. It...

Press Release

With Four Products Remaining, What is the Coolest Thing Made in California?

Sep 22, 2023

Sacramento, Calif. – The first-ever finalists of the Coolest Thing Made in California competition hosted by the California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA) were announced today. From a pool of 100 nominated products and almost 77,000 votes later, the Top 4 products in the Coolest Thing Made in California competition are:

  1. Carmazzi Caramel Corn’s Popcorn in Sacramento
  2. Millennium Space Systems’ Victus Nox in El Segundo
  3. Northrop Grumman’s James Webb Space Telescope in Redondo Beach
  4. Tesla’s Model Y in Fremont

These products have captured the essence of California’s manufacturing prowess, standing out for their quality, creativity, and impact on various industries. Their selection as the Top 4, voted on by the public, is a testament to their exceptional contributions to the state’s manufacturing landscape.

The competition is now in its final stages, and these Top 4 products are head-to-head as the public decides the ultimate winner of the “Coolest Thing Made in California” title.

Voting for the final round is open to the public from Monday, September 25 to Thursday, September 28, at CoolestThingCalifornia.com. We encourage everyone to cast their votes and support their favorite product, as every vote counts in determining the winner.

The winner will be announced by California’s Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis at CMTA’s MakingCA Conference on National Manufacturing Day.

“Manufacturing is a critical industry in California’s history and future,” said Lance Hastings, President & CEO of CMTA. “We couldn’t be more proud of the extraordinary range of products we witnessed throughout this competition. The finalists represent the pinnacle of innovation in California, and we can’t wait to see which one will be crowned the Coolest Thing Made in California.”

For more information about the Coolest Thing Made in California competition and to cast your vote in the final round, please visit CoolestThingCalifornia.com.

 

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About CMTA

The California Manufacturers & Technology Association has advocated for pro-growth laws and regulations before the California legislature and administrative agencies since 1918. The total output from manufacturing in California is $300 billion per year, roughly 10 percent of the total economic output of the state. Manufacturers employ 1.3 million Californians paying wages more than $25,000 higher than other non-farm employers in the state. For more information, visit CMTA’s website.

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