Made in the USA Hall of Fame Nominees for 2012

LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Made in the USA Foundation has announced 60 nominees for 20 awards for the Made in the USA Hall of Fame. The massive U.S. balance of payments deficit is caused by the importation of three types of products:  oil, automobiles and Chinese manufactured goods.  The Foundation has addressed these three areas in its 2012 nominees.

This year's nominees feature energy-efficient vehicles, electric cars, electric motorcycles and solar panels.  These categories were chosen because the importation of oil, and energy self-sufficiency, are the largest problems that America faces.

The United States leads the world in software and for the first time the Hall of Fame will include a software category.  In 2011, the world experienced uprisings in many countries that would not have been possible without American software from Google, Facebook and Twitter, our three nominees in the software category.

Stereo equipment, bicycles, lighting, bathing suits, hand tools, toys and eyeglasses have been dominated by foreign, and particularly Chinese, producers.  For this reason, we are featuring companies that make all of these products in the United States.

We also have started a new award to welcome home companies who are bringing production back to the United States: General Electric, Master Lock and Lincolnton Furniture.

Winners will be announced July 2, 2012 at the Made in the USA Hall of Fame Awards Dinner in Santa Monica, California.  Tickets to the event are available.  For more information or for tickets, call 310-MADE-USA or email [email protected].

SOURCE Made in the USA Foundation