America's Top States For Business

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America's Top States For Business CNBC, a division of NBC Universal, has been ranking state business climates annually since 2007. According to information compiled by CNBC, both from private industry sources, as well as State and Federal agencies, there have been increases and decreases in many U.S State's economies. Specifically, there have been sizable changes in state population, state GDP per capita, unemployment rates, foreclosure rates, budget gaps, and corporate tax rates. CNBC's state rankings are based on 10 categories: Cost of Doing Business, Workforce, Quality of Life, Infrastructure, Economy, Education, Technology & Innovation, Business, Friendliness, Access to Capital, and Cost of Living.

Virginia was ranked as No. 1 on CNBC's "America's Top States For Business 2011".

CategoryScore2011 Rank2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 1962126
Workforce 227129
Quality of Life 1922618
Infrastructure & Transportation 2171012
Economy 186811
Education 177613
Technology & Innovation 1721110
Business Friendliness 18422
Access to Capital 82109
Cost of Living 272427
OVERALL 166012

CNBC: "America's Top States For Business 2011"

Previously in the 2010 report, Virginia was ranked as number 2 and in the 2009 report, Virginia was ranked as number 1. Virginia's current Governor is Bob McDonnell (R). The state's population is 8,001,024, with a GDP (2009 per capita) of $46,609. The unemployment rate as of May 2011 is 6.0 percent, the foreclosure rate as of May 2011 is one per 766 households, and the projected budget gap for 2012 is $2.0 billion. Also the corporate tax rate is 6.0 percent, and the largest employers are Northrop Grumman, Food Lion, and Booz Allen Hamilton.

Texas was ranked as No. 2 on CNBC's "America's Top States For Business 2011".

CategoryScore2011 Rank2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 1763330
Workforce 2031416
Quality of Life 1643229
Infrastructure & Transportation 29311
Economy 164141
Education 1132730
Technology & Innovation 19744
Business Friendliness 1281819
Access to Capital 9447
Cost of Living 4658
OVERALL 157821

CNBC: "America's Top States For Business 2011"

North Carolina was ranked as No. 3 on CNBC's "America's Top States For Business 2011".

CategoryScore2011 Rank2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 238815
Workforce 26133
Quality of Life 1633332
Infrastructure & Transportation 234310
Economy 844137
Education 1251826
Technology & Innovation 1711211
Business Friendliness 1541213
Access to Capital 802210
Cost of Living 292223
OVERALL 153834

CNBC: "America's Top States For Business 2011"

Georgia was ranked as No. 4 on CNBC's "America's Top States For Business 2011".

CategoryScore2011 Rank2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 2081820
Workforce 25942
Quality of Life 1403835
Infrastructure & Transportation 27322
Economy 1073537
Education 1182228
Technology & Innovation 1561717
Business Friendliness 1341617
Access to Capital 761313
Cost of Living 4299
OVERALL 1513410

CNBC: "America's Top States For Business 2011"

Colorado was ranked as No. 5 on CNBC's "America's Top States For Business 2011".

CategoryScore2011 Rank2010 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 1793025
Workforce 243710
Quality of Life 25772
Infrastructure & Transportation 1762636
Economy 128268
Education 1063029
Technology & Innovation 1691412
Business Friendliness 16469
Access to Capital 721515
Cost of Living 183335
OVERALL 151253

CNBC: "America's Top States For Business 2011"

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