CNBC Study Ranks Texas as No. 1 Business Climate in the Nation
AUSTIN, Texas – Texas is America’s Top State for Business 2012, according to CNBC’s sixth-annual study that scored all 50 states on 51 measures of competitiveness.
“Claiming the spot as America’s Top State for Business 2012 reinforces the fact that the Lone Star State is the nation’s leader in fostering an economic climate that creates jobs, promotes innovation and opens the door to unlimited opportunity,” Gov. Perry said. “Our conservative fiscal policies, including low taxes, fair courts and predictable regulations, keep our state the top destination to live, work, grow a business and raise a family.”
CNBC scored each state based on input from business groups and public information from the states themselves. Each state received points based on ten broad categories including: cost of doing business, workforce, economy, education, quality of life, technology and innovation, infrastructure & transportation, cost of living, business friendliness, and access to capital.
Texas’ economy continues to receive national recognition. The state added more new jobs over the past year than anywhere else in the country, with Texas’ unemployment rate remaining more than a full point below the national average. According to USA Today, Texas has moved past New York as the nation’s second largest economy, and the Wall Street Journal has credited the state’s low taxes and employer-friendly environment with helping make Texas the job creation capital of the nation. Texas is the nation’s leading exporting state for the tenth year in a row, and was recently named the “Best State to Do Business” by CEO Magazine for the eighth year in a row. Texas consistently ranks among the top states for Fortune 500 headquarters.
The complete CNBC study is available on Topstates.cnbc.com
Governor’s Press Office: 512-463-1826
Catherine Frazier: cfrazier@gov.texas.gov
Lucy Nashed: lnashed@gov.texas.gov
Josh Havens: jhavens@gov.texas.gov