Top states for doing business

New corporate business locations and expansions create jobs, expand and diversify tax bases for every state in the U.S. Today, there is more attention paid to how states held onto and supported businesses during the Great Recession. In turn, states are more motivated to attract, diversify, and support new companies; and stand out from competing states. Economic development is more competitive than it has ever been. Standard incentives don’t cut the mustard anymore. It’s a buyer’s market. Firms don’t mind telling states what they want out of a deal. States are offering incentive packages with discounts, credits, tax breaks, free land, and infrastructure, faster permitting, energy discounts, shovel-ready sites, creative funding options, and workforce training. But what companies want is a state willing to be a proactive partner. With that in mind, the Area Development website has issued its “Top States for Doing Business” survey results for 2017. The No. 1 overall state is Georgia. Among Gulf Coast states and their rankings was Louisiana (5); Alabama (6); Mississippi (9); and Florida (12). Source: Area Development 09/12/17)