Virginia Tops 2013 List Of The Best States For Business

The U.S. economy continues to sputter along with a cloudy outlook. The Federal Reserve indicated as much last week when it decided to maintain its monthly $85 billion bond buying program to prop up economic growth. “Conditions in the job market today are still far from what all of us would like to see,” said Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke at a press conference announcing the continuation of the easy-money plan.

But pockets of the U.S. are primed for growth thanks to pro-business regulatory environments, educated workforces and reasonable business costs. Leading the way is Virginia which tops Forbes’ eighth annual list of the Best States for Business. Virginia has ranked second the past three years, but returns to the head of the pack for the first time since 2009.

Our study looks at six important factors for businesses: costs, labor supply, regulatory environment, current economic climate, growth prospects and quality of life. Virginia is the only state to rank in the top five in four areas—only missing on costs and growth prospects.

Virginia ranks first among the states in the regulatory category because of its business-friendly government policies and strong incentive offerings. The tort system is one of the best in the country for businesses, according to the Mercatus Center’s report “Freedom in the 50 States.” Virginia is also one of 24 right-to-work states, which explains why only 4.4% of its workers are in unions — fifth lowest in the U.S.

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