North Carolina Receives Site Selection's "Top Competitive State" Award

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North Carolina Receives Site Selection's "Top Competitive State" Award

Published: Tuesday, May 12th, 2015 @ 10:04 pm
By: Stan Deatherage ( More Entries )

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    News Release:

Rankings highlight the importance of job creation programs like NC Competes

    Raleigh, N.C.     Governor Pat McCrory announced today that North Carolina jumped to first place among all states in Site Selection magazine's 2014 'Top Competitive States' Award. The ranking provides further proof that the state must continue to support job creation programs like NC Competes.

    "It's great to see North Carolina recognized for our outstanding business climate, but we know that we can't rest on our accomplishments," said Governor McCrory. "We need a long-term solution to promote job creation in order to maintain this ranking."

    The Competitiveness Award, one of the publication's economic development performance measurements, is awarded annually based on data tracked in Conway Data Inc.'s New Plant Database. According to the magazine's tracking system, North Carolina's 2014 project performance was strong.

    North Carolina ranked sixth in the total number of facility projects, fourth in total projects per capita. It's important to note that many of these projects were made possible in part by performance-based job creation programs included in the NC Competes package.

    Project performance is a major component of the award's scoring system, which is based on a 10-part index of investment criteria. States are awarded points according to their performance in each of these categories. North Carolina scored 409 points on the magazine's scale.

    In the rankings, North Carolina is followed by Louisiana (408.5 points), Texas (406), South Carolina (405.5) and Tennessee (404).

    "In today's competitive world, companies are looking for every business advantage they can find," said North Carolina Commerce Secretary John E. Skvarla, III. "That means every location seeking to attract companies must work even harder to create the conditions necessary for businesses to be successful."

    Conway Data's New Plant Database focuses on new corporate location projects with significant impact. New facilities and expansions included in the analysis must meet at least one of three criteria: involve a capital investment of at least $1 million, create at least 20 new jobs, or add at least 20,000 square feet of new floor area.

    The 2014 'Top Competitive States' rankings and scoring criteria can be seen at http://www.siteselection.com/issues/2015/may/top-competitive-states.

    Contact: Crystal Feldman
       govpress@nc.gov

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Gene Scarborough said:

( May 13th, 2015 @ 5:06 am )

It is good to know MOST states in the SE are doing well. NC certainly needs to keep on doing things right to attract jobs and business to us.

We have one of the most beautiful and mild states for location.
We have a non-union reality that makes work cheaper here / pay to workers less
Major Interstates traverse us for ease of highway transport
Progressive thinking built the Kinston Jetport for air transport of goods
Our lakes, rivers, streams and Sounds are pristine---AT THIS TIME.

Now, consider what Fracking and Offshore Drilling could do to us
Tax incentives to industry and corporations puts a tax burden on the workers
We have great needs for a rail system to transport good and people fast
We are trending CONSERVATIVE on politics---can be good OR bad depending on how it is used to think either PROGRESSIVELY of REGRESSIVELY.
Conservatism is trying to erode quality public education at a Secondary Level

We came to Beaufort County from Nash County. That area is in severe DEPRESSION due to all industry leaving---replaced by drugs and crime. Gastonia is the only worst crime town of that size in NC!

When they go for new industry the segregated Benvenue Country Club was an issue---now minorities are the source of violence and drug selling/use in Rocky Mount.

All I am saying is "WE CAN DO BETTER" if we address the real issues of this state.