(NEW ORLEANS) – Louisiana is #2 when it comes to states with the best business climate. That according to the November issue of Site Selection magazine, a publication with an editorial mission to publish information for expansion planning decision-makers including CEOs, corporate real estate executives and facility planners, human resource managers and consultants to corporations.
According to Site Selection reporter Mark Arend, Louisiana jumped from sixth place last year to second in 2014 in the overall ranking, surpassing North Carolina (third place) and Texas (fourth) – the two states that have battled for first place in the Top Business Climate ranking for much of the past decade. The entire Southeast remains the region to beat, with nine of the top 10 states calling the region home. Fifth-place Ohio retains a spot in the Top 10, dropping from fourth place in 2013.
Michael Hecht, President and CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc., said about Louisiana’s #2 distinction, “Last year Louisiana was #6. Just five years ago we were #25. Since 2008 Louisiana has secured over 83,000 new jobs and over $54 billion in investment, and is now at a higher point in every national survey than before 2008.”
According to Site Selection, the Top Ten of the 2014 Top State Business Climate Ranking are:
Georgia
Louisiana
North Carolina
Texas
Ohio
South Carolina
Tennessee
Kentucky
Alabama
Virginia
Site Selection’s rankings are based on multiple components including executive survey, competiveness, new plants per capita and new and mature firm tax indexes.
