Site Selection magazine has ranked North Carolina No. 1 in its list of states with the "top business climate" for the sixth year in a row.
The economic development magazine surveys corporate executives that help businesses select new locations for expansion. The ranking is based on factors such as cost of doing business, quality of the workforce and number of new projects recently announced.
The No. 1 ranking for North Carolina has become almost a given -- this is the ninth year out of the past 10 that the state has been at the top.
But it's an important bragging right for economic recruiters as they work to lure new businesses. State officials routinely point to such "best of" lists as they tout North Carolina's charms.
Keeping the No. 1 ranking for another year is a relief to Gov. Bev Perdue, whose administration is under intense pressure to improve the state's slowing healing economy.
“There’s nothing I love more than convincing a corporate executive of what a great place this is to do business,” Perdue said, in a prepared statement. “This shows that the hard work of the past two years continues to pay off -- our investments in education to build the workforce of tomorrow, policies that create a more business-friendly climate and our aggressive recruiting. I intend for us to remain as competitive and innovative as any state -- both nationally and internationally.”
The magazine cites some recent economic development wins for this state, including Reser’s Fine Foods adding 500 jobs in Halifax County, Caterpillar expanding in Winston-Salem and Sanford, Siemens Energy expanding in Charlotte and Wendell, and more.
“North Carolina’s first-place finish underscores its success across a wide spectrum of industries, from aerospace to life sciences to energy," said Site Selection Editor in Chief Mark Arend, in a statement. "We commend the governor and her economic development team for their focus on making and keeping their state business-friendly.”
Read the full Site Selection report here.
Assistant Business Editor Alan M. Wolf joined the N&O in 1999 covering the business of health care. He became an editor in 2001, and helps oversee the paper's daily business coverage and Sunday Work&Money section. He lives in Clayton with his wife and two children. Reach him at 919-829-4572 or