Bankrolling Biotech
Read Site Selection's article about North Carolina's biotechnology industry and its billion dollar investment.
For the seventh time in the past eight years, Site Selection Magazine has ranked North Carolina the best state in the nation for its overall business climate.
The newly published November issue features Gov. Mike Easley on the cover, strapping into a NASCAR cockpit. The accompanying cover headline reads, "Drive to the Top -- How North Carolina Clinched its Fourth Straight Business Climate Finish."
The North Carolina article, by Editor-in-Chief Mark Arend, says that the Tar Heel state leads all others with its use of tax breaks and other incentives, economic development programs and world-class workforce development to bring in businesses and jobs.
"Corporate executives know North Carolina is listening to them and we understand what they need to succeed," Easley said. "We are investing in education to provide a skilled work force and offering an unmatched quality of life so people want to live and work here. All these make our state the top choice for companies looking to grow."
Arend agrees. "Our readers identified incentives, low taxes and an effective economic development team as the factors behind North Carolina's winning business climate," he said. "I would add to that list the governor's commitment to retooling the state's work force, which companies in some key industry sectors took advantage of this year."
Tennessee placed second. Alabama and Texas were tied at third; Indiana is fifth; Florida is sixth; Ohio seventh; Virginia is eighth; Illinois ninth; and Georgia, tenth.