Florida Repeats As Second Best State for Business

By  //  May 18, 2015

Texas remains best state for business

florida best for biz 560 updated
Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) announced Florida’s second place ranking as the “Best State for Business” and first place ranking for living environment by Chief Executive Magazine.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA  Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI) announced Florida’s second place ranking as the “Best State for Business” and first place ranking for living environment by Chief Executive Magazine. 

This year, Florida’s business climate continued to improve, moving it closer to becoming the best state in the nation for business.

Bill_Johnson-180
Bill Johnson

“We thank Chief Executive Magazine for their continued recognition of Florida’s success as a business state. Florida has been able to define itself as a pro-business state and win competitive, game-changing projects,” Florida Secretary of Commerce and EFI president & CEO Bill Johnson said.

“The state has a very compelling business story that we must continue to tell as we diversify and grow the economy through job creation.”

More than 500 CEOs from across the U.S. voted in the survey. Respondents were asked to rank the best states for business based on a range of measures, from strength of workforce to taxation and regulatory climate to quality of life.

According to the rankings, Florida is on an upward trend with industrial development helping to diversify Florida’s economy. Each year, the Sunshine State edges closer to its goal of overtaking Texas as the best state for business.

Florida has multiple industries that are expanding, including technology which is becoming an increasingly important driver of the state’s growth.

According to Chief Executive Magazine, Florida continues to transform beyond tourism and is closing the gap between other states. In fact, the publication notes that the industries expanding the fastest in Florida are not directly related to tourism and are some of the best-paid industries in the state.

Beyond the rankings, Florida has clearly demonstrated its increased competitiveness in the economic development landscape.

From 2010 through 2014, Florida has seen a dramatic rise in the numbers that measure success for competitive projects with a 23 percent increase in projects won, a 91 percent increase in new jobs associated with projects and a 133 percent increase in capital investment being brought to Florida’s communities.

Florida has been placed prominently on the business map with announcements by such industry leading companies as Northrop Grumman, Verizon, Hertz, Amazon, USAA, General Electric and Navy Federal Credit Union, demonstrating confidence in the state’s workforce, infrastructure and tax policies.

View Chief Executive Magazine’s survey and learn more about Florida’s Perfect Climate for Business.