Virginia gets top pro-business ranking in recent study

Virginia has earned kudos for its pro-business climate in two recent studies.

Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc., a Chicago-based corporate site relocation expert, has ranked Virginia as the country’s “most pro-business state.”

Since 2003, Virginia has been at the top of Pollina’s list, holding first place in 2003 and 2007, second from 2004 through 2006 and third in 2008.

The annual study examines job retention and creation in all 50 states and the federal government, and uses factors such as taxes, human resources, right-to-work legislation, energy costs, infrastructure spending, workers compensation laws, economic incentive programs and economic development efforts to determine the rankings, according to the company’s Web site, www.pollina.com.

Other states rounding out the top five in Pollina’s study were Utah, North Carolina, Wyoming and South Carolina.

Directorship magazine has also given Virginia praise for its business environment, noting that it has become a favorite business des-tination.

Directorship’s study examined the states’ tax climates, cost of living, cost of labor, overall economy, quality of life, education, litigation rank and number of Fortune 500 companies located in the state.

Virginia ranked in the top 10 for quality of life, education, overall economy, number of Fortune 500 companies in the state and liti-gation rank. It came in at No. 15 for its tax climate, No. 27 for cost of living and No. 39 for cost of labor, according to its Web site at www.directorship.com.

It came in second only to Texas in the overall study, followed by Utah, South Dakota and Nebraska.

“As governor, I’ve made it a priority to fost opportunity and quality jobs for Virginians while ensuring our workforce has education resources and skills it needs to compete globally,” Gov. Timothy M. Kaine said in a news release about the studies. “During these tough economic times in particular, reclaiming the No 1 ranking (in the Pollina study) speaks volumes about he consistent way in which Virginia does business — and demonstrates that we’re up for the challenge.”

During Kaine’s administration, Virginia has also been recognized as:

the most business-friendly state in America, by Forbes.com, from 2006 through 2008;

one of the best states for business, by CNBC in 2007 and 2008;

the top-performing state government in America, by Governing magazine in 2008; and

the state where “a child is most likely to have a successful life,” by Education Week in 2007.