MO ranks among Top 10 pro-business states

Missouri has landed at No. 9 on the latest list of the Top 10 pro-business states by Pollina Corporate Real Estate.
 
The comprehensive report ranks states on 32 factors, including taxes, right-to-work and workers’ compensation legislation, jobs lost or gained, and state financial incentive programs, according to a news release from the Missouri Partnership, a nonpartisan, statewide organization focused on economic development.

The report noted Missouri’s economy for its role in attracting new jobs.

“Gov. Jay Nixon has shown that he understands - and is capitalizing on - the process required for job creation and the tax revenue that results from strong economic development,” said Pollina Vice President and report co-author Brent Pollina, in the release.

Pollina also pointed to organizations such as the Missouri Partnership and the Missouri Economic Development Council, and political leaders as factors in the state’s ranking.

For factors under Stage I of the report, categorized as Labor, Taxes and Other Factors, Missouri ranked No. 16 and posted strong scores for unemployment insurance, corporate income taxes, property taxes and inventory taxation, the release said.

“Under Stage II, Incentives and Economic Development Agency Factors, Missouri placed second in the nation due to its great incentive programs and highly skilled economic development groups that have worked hard to promote the Missouri brand as well as retain existing companies,” Pollina added.

The full listing of the Top 10 pro-business states:

1. Utah
2. Virginia
3. Wyoming
4. North Dakota
5. Indiana
6. Nebraska
7. South Dakota
8. Kansas
9. Missouri
10. Oklahoma

Missouri first ranked among the nation’s Top 25 pro-business states in 2006, moving into the Top 10 in 2010 at No. 10, the release said. This year’s report was published in conjunction with the American Economic Development Institute.[[In-content Ad]]