Finger Lakes Textiles Won New York Manufacturing Contest
The Waterloo-based manufacturer’s win highlights inclusive business models for operators seeking talent.
Updated on Sept. 26, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Finger Lakes Textiles and Arctic Gear secured the 2026 Coolest Thing Made in New York title after a public vote. The competition, hosted by The Business Council of New York State, featured 38 participating businesses.
Why it matters
The recognition brings regional visibility to a social enterprise model that integrates disability support into core manufacturing operations. It underscores the potential for businesses to pair product quality with social impact metrics to drive brand engagement.
The winning entity is a division of Mozaic, part of The Arc New York, which employs over 30,000 workers statewide. The organization has spent more than 75 years supporting over 60,000 people with disabilities.
The players
Finger Lakes Textiles and Arctic Gear
A Waterloo-based apparel manufacturer and a division of the social service organization Mozaic.
The Business Council of New York State
A statewide trade association representing business interests and lobbying for pro-growth policies.
The Arc New York
A non-profit organization providing support services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The details
Representatives from the company presented their apparel products and employment philosophy at the annual meeting of The Business Council of New York State. The selection was decided by public vote over a six-week duration. The winning organization will now participate in the 2027 Manufacturing Bus Tour to showcase its production capabilities and employment model.
Timeline
The voting period for the competition lasted six weeks during 2026.
The winning manufacturer will host a 2027 Manufacturing Bus Tour stop in Waterloo.
Market Landscape
The 2026 Coolest Thing Made in New York competition reflects a broader trend of state-level associations using public engagement to bolster manufacturing prestige. This win follows a pattern of highlighting non-traditional or social-enterprise manufacturers alongside traditional industrial firms.
Business owners should assess how highlighting unique workforce strategies—such as inclusive hiring—can differentiate their brand in public-facing contests. Monitoring the 2027 Manufacturing Bus Tour stops may offer insights into how peers integrate community outreach with core production.
The takeaway
Operational success can be bolstered by clearly communicating how a company’s social impact aligns with its product quality. Consider tracking the 2027 Manufacturing Bus Tour schedule as a benchmark for how industry peers leverage state-level publicity to scale their mission.
What happens next
The winning organization will host a stop on the 2027 Manufacturing Bus Tour in Waterloo.
Further reading
Explore broader trends in corporate social responsibility within the Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
Live Poll
Should your community prioritize businesses that employ people with disabilities when evaluating local manufacturing success?
