Full Results: 2012 Top States for
Doing Business Survey »
OVERALL RANKINGS
2012
1. Texas
2. South Carolina
3. Georgia
4. Alabama
5. North Carolina
6. Louisiana
7. Tennessee
8. Indiana
9. Mississippi
10. Oklahoma
2011
1. Texas
2. Georgia
3. Alabama
4. South Carolina
5. Indiana
6. Louisiana
7. North Carolina
8. Tennessee
9. Mississippi
10. California
2010
1. Tennessee
2. Texas
3. South Carolina
4. Alabama
5. Georgia
6. Indiana
7. Mississippi
8. North Carolina
9. Virginia
10. Oklahoma
CONSULTANTS COMMENTARY
More than 222,000 new private-sector jobs were
added over the last year, reflecting two years of solid
job growth.
Consultant voting also placed Texas first for its
overall business environment, including its cost of
doing business, corporate tax environment, incentives
programs, speed of permitting, and access to
capital and project funding. Its top ranking for incentives
programs is a tribute to its Texas Enterprise
Fund (TEF), a "deal-closing" fund that helps secure
big job-creating projects for which locations in other
states are also competing. This program has invested
almost $500 million to bring new projects to Texas,
which represent about 63,000 jobs and more than
$20 million in capital investment. Recently TEF
awarded $1.9 million to HID Global Corporation, an
identity protection firm, to build a new manufacturing
facility and distribution center in Austin.
There is also the Texas Emerging Technology Fund
(TETF), which has invested about $200 million to
fund nearly 150 early-stage companies that represent
emerging industries such as alternative energy, IT,
and electronics. For example, the TETF recently
awarded $250,000 to Rebellion Photonics to manufacture
an innovative leak-detection device for the
chemical/petrochemical industries and will provide
up to $2 million to Vapogenix to develop non-opioid
analgesics for pain management during minor surgical
procedures.
"Texas continues to compete for - and win -
new expansion projects and relocations from some
of the most notable names in the most notable
industries in the world," says Governor Rick Perry.
"These include Caterpillar, the world's largest producer
of construction and mining equipment; Toyota,
which has greatly increased its presence in San
Antonio; and Samsung, which has invested billions
in expanding its semiconductor facility in Austin."
These and other key industries such as advanced
manufacturing and technology, aerospace and
defense, biotechnology and life sciences, information
and computer technology, petroleum refining, and
energy continue to attract strong foreign direct
investment - which is why Governor Perry received
fDi magazine's inaugural 2012 Governor's Award. The
award is given to the governor most successful in attracting new business investments to his or her
state.
"I am proud of our state's accomplishments and
honored to receive this award," says Governor Perry.
"I will remain committed to upholding principles, like
low taxes, restrained spending, reasonable spending,
and a fair legal system."
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