Georgia Governor Nathan Deal talks top the media on Oct. 16, 2014, in Atlanta.TOP TEN STATE BUSINESS CLIMATES 2014• 1. Georgia• 2. Louisiana• 3. North Carolina• 4. Texas• 5. Ohio• 6. South Carolina• 7. Tennessee• 8. Kentucky• 9. Alabama• 10. VirginiaSource: Site Selection magazine
For the second consecutive year, Georgia has been rated the No. 1 state in the nation for business by Site Selection magazine.
Corporate site selectors surveyed by the magazine ranked Georgia behind only Texas for its business climate. But Site Selection Editor Mark Arend said Georgia won the overall contest because it led the nation in new and expanded facilities in the past year.
"Our readers regularly point to Georgia's workforce training program, Quick Start; the Port of Savannah and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and other logistics assets; and its pro-business state leadership and economic development infrastructure statewide as the main reasons they choose Georgia locations," Arend said.
The new rankings were released on the eve of the re-election bid by Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal, who heralded the rating Monday as "testament to the commitment from Georgia businesses, communities, our economic development partners and the people of Georgia."
But Deal's opponent in today's gubernatorial election, Democrat Jason Carter, cautioned about reading too much into Georgia's top business rating.
Georgia has enjoyed above-average job growth with business expansions and locations in the past year, but the 7.9 percent jobless rate in Georgia last month was the highest of any state. Georgia also was one of only 10 states to lose jobs in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
"Under the governor's plan, the middle class has been left behind, and we're all feeling that pain," Carter said in his Oct. 26 debate with Deal.
Earlier this year, Georgia was recognized by CNBC as the No. 1 state for business.
Site Selection published its business climate survey in November. Tennessee was rated No. 7 and Alabama finished No. 9.
The Site Selection ratings are based 50 percent from the views of corporate location specialists surveyed by the magazine and 50 percent from reviewing each state's transportation infrastructure, regulatory procedures, workforce skills, land and utility costs, training and education and business incentives.
Contact Dave Flessner at dflessner@timesfreepress.com.