Dallas Morning News
Texas dropped to fifth place in the 2007 ranking of the states with the most new and expanded corporate facilities, three rungs below its second-place finish the year before, Site Selection magazine said Monday.
Ohio placed first among the states, winning its second straight Site Selection Governor’s Cup. Texas finished first in 2004 and 2005.
Among metropolitan areas, Dallas-Fort Worth also stumbled, ending up tied for sixth place with Nashville, Tenn., after finishing fourth the year before.
Chicago topped the list of metropolitan areas, while Houston finished fourth.
“Ohio’s second consecutive Governor’s Cup win proves that traditionally industrial states can attract more new facilities and new corporate investment than states that have transitioned to service economies when the whole package is considered,” said Mark Arend, editor in chief of Site Selection, which covers the corporate expansion and relocation business.
Site Selection’s annual rankings are determined by which states and cities attracted the most business projects that satisfy at least one of three criteria. The projects must include an investment of at least $1 million, create at least 50 new jobs or involve construction of at least 20,000 square feet, Mr. Arend said.
Projects by government, non-profits or other non-business entities don’t count.
The rankings are not meant as an assessment of local business climate or quality of life.
Ohio
Illinois
Tennessee
North Carolina
Texas
New York
Michigan
Virginia
Florida
Kentucky