Press Release
November 1, 2010
Site Selection Names Top State Business Climates
Atlanta, November 1, 2010: Site Selection magazine has named North Carolina the state with the Top Business Climate for 2010. As revealed in the November 2010 issue of the magazine, research based in part on a survey of corporate real estate executives has identified the Tar Heel State’s overall climate for capital investment to be tops in the United States for the ninth time in the last 10 years. Tennessee placed second this year, followed by Texas, Virginia and South Carolina. Among North Carolina’s strengths, according to executives associated with projects there, are its extensive higher education resources, work-force training initiatives, moderate climate and transportation infrastructure – besides sea, rail and highway assets, the state has both a US Airways hub at Charlotte and a FedEx regional hub at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro. Another factor is the governor’s proactive approach to business recruitment. “People across the state and many businesses around the country know that I’ll take any call and go anywhere to bring a business to our state or expand a business or create a small business in North Carolina,” said Gov. Bev Perdue. “We have been very aggressive, and that has paid off.” The annual business climate rankings are determined 50 percent by performance of the state in Conway Data’s New Plant Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity, and 50 percent by a survey of corporate site seekers across the country. The survey asked, “Based upon your experience, what are the top 10 state business climates, taking into consideration such factors as lack of red tape, financial assistance and government officials’ cooperation?” By this measure North Carolina ranked first, followed by Texas, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina. Site selectors also were asked to rank the factors most important to them when determining a location for a new facility. The top three factors this year are work-force skills, state and local tax schemes and transportation infrastructure. The biggest mover in the ranking from last year’s lineup is Louisiana, which jumped from 25th place in 2009 to ninth place this year. “All states face economic and budgetary challenges these days, but this ranking reminds us that there are significant success stories, too,” says Site Selection Editor in Chief Mark Arend. “North Carolina’s first-place finish underscores its success across a wide spectrum of industries, from aerospace to life sciences to energy. We commend the governor and her economic development team for their focus on making and keeping their state business-friendly.” The entire Business Climate story, as well as the publication’s annual state legislative and incentives update, appears in the November 2010 edition of Site Selection and at www.sitenet.com. Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com). SiteNet Dispatch, a weekly e-mail newsletter, goes to more than 41,000 industry professionals. Conway Data is an international publishing and association management company headquartered in Atlanta. The firm manages the Industrial Asset Management Council, the Development Hall of Fame and the World Development Federation (WDF), offers consulting services and awards the annual Conway Safe Skies Award. TOP TEN STATE BUSINESS CLIMATES 2010
EXECUTIVE SURVEY BUSINESS CLIMATE RANKINGS 2010
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