Iowa is the 22nd Best State for Business 2012

May 2 2012 by ChiefExecutive.net


No 22: Iowa

No. 22

Iowa

Taxation and Regulations
Workforce Quality
Living Environment

Based on CEO Survey by ChiefExecutive.net

Key Metrics
State GDP 

  • % Growth ’07-’10: 0.30
  • % Growth ’07-’10 v. Nat’l Avg. (-0.33%): 0.64

Unemployment

  • Unemployment Rate Dec. 2011 %: 5.60
  • Comparison with Nat’l Rate (8.50%): -2.90

Domestic Migration

  • Domestic Net Migration ’00-’09: -49,589
  • Rank: 39

State Government

  • Debt per Capita Fiscal Year ’10 ($): 1,690
  • State & Local Gov’t Employees per 10k Residents: 611.24

State-Local Tax Burden

  • Rate (%): 9.53
  • Compared to Nat’l Avg. (9.8%): -0.27
Key Companies
  • Principal Financial
  • Rockwell Collins
  • Meredith Corp.
Development Trend Indicator: Positive
Does better job of harnessing locational possibilities for food technology.
CEO Comments
“We do business in 6 states and Iowa is the state where it is the best to do business.”

“Planned to relocate headquarters in Wisconsin to Iowa but local union finally agreed to concessionary agreement.”

Sources:
Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Labor Statistics
NewGeography.com
The Tax Foundation