Utah is America's Top State for Business in 2016

[bluemingidiot]

Utah's rate of new jobs increase was best.

Key to Utah's success is its robust technology sector, concentrated in the area in and around Salt Lake City that has come to be known as Silicon Slopes. 

GDP grew 2.8 percent last year — the third-highest rate in the nation.

Runner-up Texas finds itself in a bit of a rut, but there are worse problems to have. This is the Lone Star State's fourth consecutive year in second place following Top State wins in 2008, 2010 and 2012. In fact, Texas has never finished below second place.

Texas' biggest strength is its economy — the best in the study.

Third-place was Colorado, which captured the honor of the nation's top workforce. Colorado workers are the most educated and state worker training programs among the nation's best performing.

Minnesota, last year's top state, drops to fourth place this year. The North Star State maintains its advances in Education — where it finishes second — and Quality of Life, where it rises to second place.

North Carolina, with a solid workforce and known for innovation was fifth.

www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/utah-is-americas-top-state-for-business-in-2016.html

[bowdonkey]

Interesting. I live in MN and it's not all rosy though. But compared to the other midwestern states, we are definately No.1 in my book. Especially environment and education. And of course we are the state of hockey. Looking at things from a geographical perspective, I would think any state in the interior would be hard pressed to beat any of the costal states. We do have the port of Duluth, which gives a huge advantage when shipping to the interior. But compared to ocean ports, we are still pretty small.

[indypartridge]

Interesting that Indiana is ranked well (16th) but is 45th in'Quality of Life', a rather subjective category.
Of all the places I've lived, I'd place Indiana in the top half, maybe top quartile, in my definition of 'Quality of Life'.
I could easily list far more than 5 states where I believe quality of life is far worse!

www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-top-states-for-business-2016-the-list-and-ranking.html

[willowgirl]

I'm not sure that taking anti-LGBT legislation into account is a valid way to measure a state's business climate. Just sayin'!

[bluemingidiot]

Jul 13, 2016 10:42:37 GMT bowdonkey said:

Interesting. I live in MN and it's not all rosy though. But compared to the other midwestern states, we are definately No.1 in my book. Especially environment and education. And of course we are the state of hockey. Looking at things from a geographical perspective, I would think any state in the interior would be hard pressed to beat any of the costal states. We do have the port of Duluth, which gives a huge advantage when shipping to the interior. But compared to ocean ports, we are still pretty small.

How can you have all that hockey and still rise to second in quality of life?  North Carolina dropped to 30th just because their bathrooms are gender specific.  Guess in Minnesota they just put hay in the stalls and anything can use them.

[willowgirl]

And of course we are the state of hockey.

Of course you are the state of hockey; what else do you have to do where it's winter 8 months out of the year?!

[bluemingidiot]

Jul 13, 2016 11:29:08 GMT indypartridge said:

Interesting that Indiana is ranked well (16th) but is 45th in'Quality of Life', a rather subjective category.
Of all the places I've lived, I'd place Indiana in the top half, maybe top quartile, in my definition of 'Quality of Life'.
I could easily list far more than 5 states where I believe quality of life is far worse!

www.cnbc.com/2016/07/12/americas-top-states-for-business-2016-the-list-and-ranking.html

I agree with WG, the only other thing I can see lowering it is the proximity of Chicago.