Last week the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce kicked-off a “Brooklyn Made” program in order to certify the authenticity of products who dare to claim that they are actually and 100% truly “Made in Brooklyn.”

Not only will the certification tell consumers where the manufacturer is headquartered, but a rating of gold, silver or bronze will allow the most discerning customers the ability to distinguish between products merely from Brooklyn and products that create manufacturing jobs right in the neighborhood.

This move by the C of C is just one more bit of evidence that Brooklyn is gaining prestige and economic significance like it never has before. Brooklyn-made brands, especially in the food and fashion markets, are helping bring Brooklyn out of decades-long economic doldrums.

“Brooklyn is a global brand” said New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli. “Kings County’s cachet has spurred an uptick in manufacturing jobs that we hope will continue and increase.”

Pickle producer Shamus Jones of Brooklyn Brine is ready to ship 13,000 jars of pickles to a brand new retail client in South Africa. Jones employs 35-40 workers in his busy Gowanus pickle plant which also runs a restaurant nearby. Jones says that he would like to grow, but he also does not want to leave Brooklyn to do so.

“We’re searching for a building to buy, to give us a stay of execution in a sea of condos and escalating real estate prices” he said. “We’re pretty adamant about staying in Brooklyn.”