Made in Colorado 2017 award finalists.

• Position: MADE IN COLORADO

The 2017 MIC class represents locally made tangible goods you can ride, play, taste and touch--reflective of the place we call home and the romance of "the Rocky Mountain West," says Chuck Sullivan of Something Independent, a convener of Colorado entrepreneurs. Whether honored for their ethics or inventiveness, these companies have launched businesses, products and cultures that are "built to last," Sullivan says. "They are collaborative but with a competitive drive that sets them apart from the pack. There's a respect, appreciation and alignment of the product and the people," Sullivan says of ColoradoBiz magazine's Made in Colorado companies.

MOST ETHICAL MANUFACTURER

NEW BELGIUM BREWING CO.

Inspired by a Euro bike trip, Fort Collins duo Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch leaped into a full-blown commercial beer brewing operation in 1991. From humble beginnings, the brand has become a beacon of corporate social responsibility thanks to its environmental stewardship and employee engagement. Highlights include committing to become a zero-waste business, substantial water-use redurtions, high energy efficiency standards and recycling initiatives, all of which have helped forge an unbreakable bond with customers.

www.newbelgium.com/Brewery

MILE HIGH WORKSHOP

Despite Colorado's booming economy, one in eight people live in poverty, according to hungerfreecolorado.org. Taking that to heart. Mile High Workshop is a social enterprise offering its services--from woodworking to laser engraving, sewing to assembly--to a wide variety of local customers. What sets the Englewood studio apart is its training and employment of individuals seeking to re-enter the work force after struggles with addiction, homelessness and incarceration, www.milehighworkshop.org

ECO BRANDS GROUP

This company comes with a firm pledge of sustainable sourcing and principled manufacturing practices. Launched in 2015, the Boulder-based brand takes materials from clients, such as banners, bike tubes and worn-out climbing rope, to be transformed into everyday products. The Green Guru brand, under the company's umbrella, maintains a strong national and international direct-to-consumer distribution chain, fashioning original designs for backpacks, wallets, travel and bike bags, all from recycled materials. www.ecobrandsgroup.com

MOST INNOVATIVE MANUFACTURER

ALEPH OBJECTS INC.

Every day, rows of machines feverishly print clones of themselves inside Aleph Objects' Loveland-based...