Relocation group names Virginia most business-friendly state
DATELINE: RICHMOND Va.
Another organization has named Virginia the nation's most business-friendly state, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said Monday.
Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc., a Chicago-based corporate relocation firm, ranked Virginia No. 1 in its annual study, "Top Ten Pro-Business States: America's Economy in the 21st Century."
Last August, Virginia also was tops in a ranking of the "Best States for Business" by Forbes.com, the Internet site of the Forbes family of business publications.
"This recognition from Pollina, based on an examination of 28 objective measurements, validates the results of our hard work to create a business environment," Kaine said in a written statement.
He said state policies "emphasize our diverse work force, top-notch educational resources, and Virginia's high-quality, low-tax business climate as we compete for new jobs and investment."
James Leaman, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO, said kudos for the state's business environment are good for labor.
"We want Virginia to have a good business climate because without businesses, we don't have unions," he said in a telephone interview.
Among the factors considered in the Pollina study were taxes, human resources, labor climate, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers-compensation legislation and jobs lost or gained. The evaluation also considered 14 state government-controlled factors based on incentive programs and state economic development departments.
"Virginia has benefited from increased government spending on defense and is pressing to stay aggressive in other industries in order to maintain a diversified economy," Ronald Pollina, president of Pollina Corporate Real Estate, said in a statement.
"Virginia's business-friendly tax environment, location, market access, education, and infrastructure are especially enhanced by one of the strongest and most professional state economic development agencies in the nation."
Rounding out the top five in the Pollina study are South Carolina, Florida, North Carolina and Utah. Virginia ranked second for three years in a row after reaching the top spot in 2003.
On the Net:
Pollina: http://www.pollina.com