Louisiana has slipped three spots in Site Selection’s latest ranking of states with the best business climate, sharing the No. 7 spot on the list with South Carolina, which moved up this year.
Louisiana ranked No. 4 last year, and South Carolina was No. 10.
Half of the Site Selection ranking is based on a survey of corporate facility investors and site selectors on the most business-friendly states. Surveyed executives again ranked Louisiana No. 13, the same as in 2015 when the state tumbled seven spots from No. 6 in 2014.
The other half of the ranking is based on announced project data from the Conway Projects Database, which credits areas with corporate facility projects of at least $1 million in capital investment, 20 or more new jobs or new construction of at least 20,000 square feet.
Louisiana’s category ranking for announced new plants improved from No. 8 last year to No. 5 this year. However, the state tumbled in the competitiveness category, falling to No. 11 after rising to No. 2 in 2015.
For the fourth consecutive year, Georgia is ranked No. 1 by Site Selection, followed by North Carolina and Ohio. Tennessee and Texas have tied for No. 4, followed by Virginia. Alabama and Indiana round out the top 10.
“This year’s ranking, like those of previous years, illustrates the enduring strength of the U.S. South as a destination for corporate expansion,” Site Selection says. “Ohio (third) and Indiana (10th) made the top 10, but all others in that group can be found south of the Mason-Dixon Line.”
See the complete rankings for this year, and see how Louisiana’s new ranking compares to its mark last year.
