Texas Ranked as Best State for Business by Chief Executive Magazine; California Placed Last

Texas has received another accolade regarding the state’s business climate.

Texas has been ranked as the Best State for Business by Chief Executive Magazine for the ninth year in a row.

More than 700 top CEOs across the nation awarded the top spot to the Lone Star State in the magazine’s annual Best and Worst States survey.

CEO opinions were taken on a number of categories, including regulations, tax policies, workforce quality, educational resources, quality of living, and infrastructure.

“The playbook for successful states boils down to three simple moves: engage in real dialogue with business leaders, adapt policies to create an attractive environment, and effectively communicate your story to real job creators,” said Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive Magazine and www.chiefexecutive.net. “This year’s rankings prove that smart policies result in increased investment, jobs, and greater overall economic activity.”

Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Indiana ranked second through fifth place respectively, remaining unchanged from last year’s ranking. Arizona moved into sixth place, up from 10^th place last year.

New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, and New York ranked 46^th through 49^th respectively, and California ranked dead last.

“CEOs continue to tell us that California seems to be doing everything possible to drive business from the state,” said J.P. Donlon, Editor-in-Chief of Chief Executive Magazine. “Texas Gov. Rick Perry, by contract, personally makes it his mission to lead corporate recruitment and economic development efforts in his state.”

Perry weighed in, saying “This vote of confidence from business leaders across the nation further highlights that Texas is the epicenter for economic prosperity in this country. I will continue to promote the conservative principles of restrained spending, low taxes, predictable regulations, and fair courts that have guided us over the last decade in order to ensure that Texas remains the nation’s healthiest economy for the next 10 years.”

The complete Best and Worst States list is available here.