Special to IFN
RALEIGH — North Carolina has been recognized as the Top State for Business by CNBC. This announcement marks the third time in the last four years that the state has earned the ranking.
“This confirms what we have known for a long time – that North Carolina is the best state in the country for business,” said Gov. Josh Stein. “Our people, state’s business climate, top research universities and excellent community college system, infrastructure, and high quality of life help both companies and workers thrive. I want to thank leaders like former Gov. Roy Cooper and state legislators of both parties who have helped North Carolina create a welcoming climate. I am proud of the progress our state has made, and we are just getting started.”
“This recognition reflects our relentless commitment to building a competitive, welcoming, and dynamic economy that creates opportunity for everyone,” added N.C. Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley. “From our world-class workforce to our strategic investments in infrastructure, education, and innovation, North Carolina continues to lead the way as a place where businesses thrive, and communities prosper. We share this success with all of our partners across the public and private sectors and look forward to building on this momentum.”
The CNBC study measures states across 10 categories of competitiveness. Weights are assigned to each category based on how frequently states cite it as a selling point. States can earn a maximum of 2,500 points, and North Carolina scored 1,614 to take the top spot. North Carolina has been the top state for business for three out of the last four years, and the state’s biggest strengths this year are Economy, Workforce, and Business Friendliness.
Since taking office in January, Gov. Stein has announced business expansions or new projects that will yield nearly $17 billion of new capital investment in North Carolina and create more than 20,000 new jobs. North Carolina is a leader in the clean energy economy, with more than 100,000 people employed in the sector.
In March, Stein signed an executive order creating the Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, a bipartisan group directed to find strategies to strengthen North Carolina’s workforce development and expand access to good jobs with good wages. The council recently released its first report, which outlines 11 goals to ensure more people have the skills to build strong careers and bright futures in a changing economy. Stein recently signed into law Senate Bill 124, which reduces the number of state government jobs that require a four-year college degree.
To combat North Carolina’s child care crisis, the governor launched his Task Force on Child Care and Early Education, which seeks to make high-quality child care more accessible, affordable, and sustainable. Stein also established the Advisory Council on Student Safety and Well-Being to ensure that the state’s public schools support students’ learning growth and foster an engaging environment.
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