According to the latest study of state business climates from Chief Executive magazine, the letters ABC mean “anywhere but California.” It is once again the toughest state in which to do business. Texas and North Carolina repeated as #1 and #2.
The magazine said that 550 CEOs participated in the latest survey, answering questions about regulations, tax policies, workforce quality, education resources, quality of living and infrastructure.”
“A handful of states have made business-friendly policies a priority,” says J.P. Donlon, Editor-in-Chief of Chief Executive magazine. “These forward-thinking states are the exception rather than the rule and include Utah, Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma.”
“Today’s ‘soak the rich’ mentality hits business leaders especially hard,” says Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive magazine. “CEOs and entrepreneurs vote with their feet — and also pack up jobs and investment with them when they leave.”
Here’s the list, from best to worst with last year’s rank and position change in parens.
1 Texas (1, same)
2 North Carolina (2, same)
3 Florida (6, +3)
4 Tennessee (3, -1)
5 Georgia (7, +2)
6 Indiana (16, +10)
7Virginia (4, -3)
8 South Carolina (10, +2)
9 Utah (9, same)
10 Nevada (5, -5)
11 Oklahoma (19, +8)
12 Colorado (8, -4)
13 Arizona (11, -2)
14 Wyoming (15, +1)
15 South Dakota (14, -1)
16 Delaware (12, -4)
17 Kentucky (23, +6)
18 New Hampshire (18, same)
19 Idaho (13, -6)
20 Nebraska (22, +2)
21 North Dakota (24, +3)
22 Iowa (17, -5)
23 Missouri (26, +3)
24 Wisconsin (41, +17)
25 Kansas (25, same)
26 Alabama (20, -6)
27 Louisiana (40, +13)
28 Montana (28, same)
29Minnesota (31, +2)
30 Arkansas (27, -3)
31 Alaska (21, -10)
32 New Mexico (29, -3)
33 Oregon (38, +5)
34 Washington (30, -4)
35 Rhode Island (39, +4)
36 Maine (37, +1)
37 Maryland (33, -4)
38 Mississippi (35, -3)
39 Pennsylvania (32, -7)
40 Vermont (36, -4)
41 Ohio (43, +2)
42 West Virginia (34, -8)
43 Hawaii (42, -1)
44 Connecticut (44, same)
45 Massachusetts (46, +1)
46 Michigan (48, +2)
47 New Jersey (47, same)
48 Illinois (45, -3)
49 New York (49, same)
50 California (50, same)
Source: Chief Executive magazine
RBR-TVBR observation: There isn’t a whole lot a broadcaster can do about what state it’s in, but a broadcast group can make decisions as to where to locate, and perhaps where to seek acquisitions. This list also may provide some insight into the plusses and minuses being faced by your local client corporations.
