08/04/2010
Louisiana Selected Most Improved State For Business
Pollina Corporate Real Estate cites Retention
and Modernization Program, LED Faststart and aggressive
marketing among reasons for Louisiana's dramatic improvement from
2008 to 2010
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Today, Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc.
released its annual rankings of business-friendly states; and
Louisiana earned Pollina's first-ever Most Improved State
designation based on its improved ranking from 2008 to 2010.
Louisiana ranked 20th on the 2010 list, up from 27th in 2009 and
40th in 2008.
Pollina ranks the 50 states based on several dozen factors,
including business taxes, workforce training programs, workers
compensation costs, economic development incentives, energy costs,
marketing programs and state economic development efforts.
Pollina's 2010 report states, "Louisiana has shown astounding
progress. No other state has ever shown this type of movement,
going up 20 places in rank in such a short time ... Louisiana is on
its way to the economic development Super Bowl ... We meet with
many companies every year in the course of our business, and we
have noticed an increase in the number of companies that are
considering a move to the state or want to have the state evaluated
as a potential location."
Louisiana's improved ranking from 2008 to 2010 was based on a
variety of factors, including the creation of Louisiana Economic
Development's Business Expansion and Retention Group; the creation
and/or enhancement of targeted business incentive programs, such as
the new Retention and Modernization Program and the recently
enhanced Digital Media Incentive; the launch of Louisiana
FastStart™; LED's new website, OpportunityLouisiana.com and recent marketing
campaigns; and improved perceptions of Louisiana among top site
selection consultants and corporate executives.
"With our nation still enduring tough economic times and our
state facing major job losses associated with the federal deepwater
drilling moratorium, our efforts to retain and attract jobs are
more important than ever," said Gov. Bobby Jindal. "We don't want
our kids to have to leave Louisiana to pursue their dreams; we want
them to find their best career opportunities and be able to raise
their families right here in Louisiana. This recognition is another
sign that we have made the right choice by making economic
development our top priority since day one."
The 50 states were scored in two stages: Stage I evaluates
labor, taxes, education and several other factors; whereas, Stage
II evaluates incentive programs, including those for existing or
expanding businesses and for small businesses, and the performance
of state economic development agencies. Most states in the South
declined in overall rank from 2008 to 2010. In the South, only
Louisiana and Oklahoma jumped five spots or more from 2008 to
2010.
In April, Site Selection magazine
ranked LED the second best performing state economic development
agency in the U.S., which represented Louisiana's first-ever
appearance in the top 10. In July, Southern
Business & Development magazine ranked Louisiana
Co-state of the Year for the second year in a row for securing more
significant business development wins per capita than any other
Southern state in both 2008 and 2009. Last week, LED's
comprehensive workforce development program for expanding
companies, LED Faststart, was ranked the best state workforce
training program in the country by Business
Facilities magazine.
"While we are very pleased with our progress, we are going to
continue working hard to reposition Louisiana as one of the very
best states in the U.S. in which to start, grow or relocate a
business," said LED Secretary Stephen Moret. "This is just the
beginning."
About Pollina Corporate Real Estate
Inc.
Pollina Corporate Real Estate Inc. is a full service brokerage and
consulting firm, representing corporations in real estate matters
on a national and international basis. The firm has advised Fortune
500 clients and startup ventures in commercial real estate matters
since 1981.
