Category: 2014 Best & Worst States

Media reports of flat tax revenues amid higher spending could put the state’s ranking at risk if they change their tax structure. Moreover, two pieces of legislation-one to outlaw direct car sales and another to block unions from collecting and spending worker fees-could help secure Missouri’s economic stability going forward.

The Hoosier State is one of only two with a concentration in four of the biotech industry’s five major sectors, employing 60,000 workers at more than 2,000 bioscience establishments. The government plans to catch up with rival states in areas including capital formation, research commercialization and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math).

Here’s a look at the 10 Best States in which to do business in 2014.

The Portland Tribune reports that Oregon’s economy is growing faster than the national average. Jobs increased 2.6% over the past year, compared to 1.7% for the nation, according to the Oregon Employment Department. The greatest growth occurred in construction and business services.

Corporate tax rate reductions during the past two years and additional reductions scheduled for next year, plus the scheduled elimination of the Corporate Franchise Tax by 2015, are all being accomplished while maintaining a balanced state budget.

Revenue from Kentucky tourism increased in 2013. In addition, corn farming generated over $1 billion in revenue last year, while grain farming contributed 43,000 jobs and $31 million in revenue. Also, the price of horses is on the rise again, after taking a painful dive during the recession.

Massachusetts is considered one of the seven best states for startups. Cambridge, home to Harvard and MIT, ranked as the No. 4 metro on the Kaufmann Index for high-tech startup density, and entrepreneurs brewed by those educational institutions often stay in and around Boston. In addition, Massachusetts ranked No. 25 overall by the Tax Foundation, while the Suffix University Index (based in Boston) ranks the state business climate No. 1 in the country.

Topping Bankrate.com’s Best States for Retirement, CNBC says that North Dakota has a lot going for it, including a low cost of living, crime rate and taxes and quality healthcare. Home to Mount Rushmore, the cost of living is more than 18% lower than the national average, according to published reports.

“We’ve learned from Texas how to tell our story better and it helps that we’ve cut taxes 25 times, by about $400 million,” Florida Gov. Rick Scott told Chief Executive magazine. “When companies like Hertz, Amazon, Deutsche Bank and Verizon add jobs here, it causes more people to look at us. Business is comfortable that we’ll keep the tax base low and improve our workforce.”

Alaska is considered a “best state” for startups. Since Alaska has no individual income or state-level sales taxes, more entrepreneurs are burning the long, midnight oil in the land of the midnight sun. That qualified it for the No. 4 spot in the Tax Foundation’s latest State Business Tax Climate Index. Last year, the state cut taxes for small businesses earning $222,000 or less, and oil-tax simplification will give Alaska a great economic advantage. The state tied for No. 4 in the three-year Kaufmann Index.