Mississippi Best For Business?

Mississippi was recently ranked 9th in the nation in the second annual Top States for Doing Business Survey conducted by Area Development Magazine based in New York. The survey is conducted using a group of leading site selection consultants who rank each state in 12 categories. Ranking is determined by how many times a state is ranked in the consultants’ top five for each category. The categories are as follows:

Business environment
1. Overall cost of doing business
2. Incentives programs
3. Business friendliness
4. Corporate tax environment

Labor climate
1. Labor availability
2. Labor costs
3. Work force development programs

Infrastructure/global access
1. Rail & highway accessibility
2. Certified sites & shovel-ready programs
3. Competitive utility rates
4. Access to global markets

Economy
1. Leading in the economic recovery

A closer look reveals how Mississippi came to be in the top 10.

Mississippi ranked 1st for labor costs and tied for third in overall labor climate. Mississippi was ranked in the top five states for 1) corporate tax environment and incentive programs, 2) overall cost of doing business, and 3) business friendliness.

Another determining factor is the state’s skilled, mostly non-unionized work force. Mississippi has developed a network of quality work force training programs tailored to businesses, many with the help of the state’s institutes of higher learning. The publication recognized the state research network “MissiON,” a $16 million expanded broadband technology system designed to serve the state’s research universities and facilities.

Mississippi continues to advance as a leader in industry growth and expansion. Businesses are choosing to relocate or expand into Mississippi due to the business climate and most important our workforce.

To view the entire survey and to learn more about how Mississippi made it to the top 10 click here.