Texas-1 Alabama 4

[dallaswareagle]

http://www.areadevelopment.com/Top-States-for-Doing-Business/Q3-2013/survey-results-state-analysis-888237.shtml

I only C/P Texas and Alabama: More is inside the link.

q1. Texas Simply put, it’s hard to beat Texas — which maintains is number-one ranking among the surveyed consultants.

“We've worked hard to make Texas the best state in the nation to raise a family and own a business,” says Governor Rick Perry. “We’ll continue to strengthen the economic pillars that have helped us become a national example of job creation and economic strength.”

Those pillars include a pro-business environment, strong work force, and an infrastructure that allows efficient access to global markets. Texas has no personal income tax and no corporate income tax — a huge incentive for companies to locate or expand in Texas. Therefore, it is not surprising that Texas has accounted for 33 percent of the nation’s net job gains over the past decade. It also sweetens the pot with the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF), which provides funding and incentives to close deals on high-value business locations or expansions. To date TEF has invested about $500 million that has resulted in $20 billion in capital investment and more than 67,000 new jobs. Texas also offers a highly skilled, productive work force of over 12 million people with a wide range of skill sets. The unemployment rate is currently about 6.5 percent — the lowest of the 10 most-populated states. The state’s Skills Development Fund has provided more than $22 million to help companies offset the costs of employee training. From March 2012 to March 2013, Texas employment grew the fastest of the 10 largest states.

 Key growth industries include energy, advanced manufacturing, aerospace and defense, biotechnology and life sciences, electronics, and IT. Manufacturing and distribution are well-supported by a modern, highly integrated transportation infrastructure of rail, highway, air, deepwater ports, and several large, well-planned intermodal complexes. Texas’ central location within North America facilitates domestic and international transportation, as well as easy access to markets. This infrastructure support has helped Texas be the number-one exporting state in the U.S. for 11 years in a row, with more than $264.7 billion in exports in 2012.

.4 Alabama has a proven track record in economic development and 2013 promises to be another strong year. State and local leaders are working together to carry out Accelerate Alabama, the state’s long-term economic development plan based on three economic development drivers: recruitment of new business and industry, retention and expansion of existing businesses and industry, and creating jobs through innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development, and commercialization.

 Alabama is well known for its skilled work force and AIDT, one of the top training programs in the country that provides innovative solutions for Alabama’s new and expanding businesses, especially manufacturers. These companies are also attracted to Alabama’s solid transportation and shipping infrastructure — an asset that is increasingly important in a competitive global economy. Located on the Gulf Coast, Alabama has over 4,000 acres of port — including the Port of Mobile, an intermodal facility that will become the sixth-busiest port in the world after a $300 million expansion.

 Alabama’s ports are also connected to a 3,000-mile rail system and six interstate highways. Aerospace, automotive, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, distribution, IT, and chemicals are key, high-growth industries for Alabama. Major investments by Mercedes, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota continue to drive the automotive sector. The new $600 million Airbus assembly facility being developed in Mobile will start producing the A320 family of jets in 2015.

“The site was perfect, with an airport and ocean port and adequate land,” indicates Allan McArtor, chairman for Airbus Americas. “Work force was also vital — we were encouraged by the auto industry’s success in Alabama because its manufacturing aspect is a trained skill similar to that of aircraft assembly.”

[chinook]

maybe jim will start producing dream catchers in AL. 

god i miss jim.

[GH2001]

Not surprising. Most southern states are right to work states and have lower taxes. No company wants to be forced to pay higher wages than someone has earned and have them strike every other week over the quality of toilet paper. While at the same time giving away a huge chunk of their profits back in taxes.