State is 2nd best in US for business, report says

Florida is once again the second-best state in the U.S. to do business, according to CEOs surveyed for a new report released Thursday by Chief Executive magazine.

“Industrial development is helping diversify second-ranked Florida’s economy,” the magazine said. “Each year, the Sunshine State edges closer to its goal of overtaking Texas as the best state for business.”

Chief Executive says Florida will chip away at the gap by continuing to transform beyond tourism. The report cites growth in construction payrolls and technology “becoming an increasingly important driver in the state’s growth.”

Texas was ranked No. 1, as it was in 2014, followed again by Florida. North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia round out the top five.

The magazine surveyed 511 CEOs on states with which they were familiar, rating each on taxes and regulations, quality of the workforce and living environment.

Chief executives favored pro-growth, low-tax states in ranking states as “best” for doing business.

Southeast states, with their ocean ports and transportation options, dominated the top five rankings.

California was ranked the “worst state for business” for the 10th year in a row, with CEOs commenting that the state is “antibusiness” and having an unfriendly regulatory and tax environment.

State governments use the survey results to help determine how to improve their regulatory environment to attract new businesses.For complete results of the magazine’s 11th annual survey of CEOs, visit http://chiefexecutive.net/bestworst-states-business/2015.

Send your South Florida business briefs to Business Editor Randy Roguski at rroguski@sunsentinel.com