Oklahoma ranked 15th for business climate by Site Selection magazine
BY LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer
Saturday, November 03, 2012
11/03/12 at 5:00 AM
Oklahoma ranks No. 15 in Site Selection magazine's Top Business Climate for 2012 list.
That's down from last year when the state ranked 13th, but better than 2010 when Oklahoma was No. 23.
The annual ranking, which appears in the magazine's November issue, is determined 50 percent by an index of tax-burden criteria and the states' performance in Conway Data's New Plant Database, which tracks new and expanded business facility activity; and 50 percent by a survey of corporate site selectors.
The data-driven part of the survey looks at five criteria, including three that require states to demonstrate a strong record of attracting capital and two that analyze state tax burdens on mature and new firms.
Among individual categories, Oklahoma ranked 19th for competitiveness and seventh in the new plant sites between January and August.
Based on subjective input from site selectors, the state ranked No. 21 in the magazine's executive survey.
The survey asked corporate site selectors, "Based upon your experience, what are the top 10 state business climates, taking into consideration such factors as lack of red tape, financial assistance and government officials' cooperation?"
North Carolina, a regular high finisher in the survey, this year regained its top-ranked spot after losing it to Texas last year. North Carolina has received 10 first-place rankings in the last 12 years, according to the magazine.
In the magazine's executive survey, however, the two top-ranked states switched places with North Carolina at No. 2 and Texas at No. 1.
Selection Publications, a division of Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 194,000 executives of fast-growing companies.
Site Selection 2012 Top Business Climates
1. North Carolina
2. Ohio
3. Texas
4. Georgia
5. Virginia
15. Oklahoma
Site selectors' top location criteria
1. State and local tax scheme
2. Transportation infrastructure
3. Utility infrastructure
4. Land/building price and supply
5. Ease of permitting and regulatory procedures
6. Existing workforce skills
7. Local economic development strategy
8. Legal climate (tort reform)
9. Availability of incentives
10. State economic development strategy
Original Print Headline: State is No. 15 for business climate
Laurie Winslow 918-581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com
