Georgia is 2014's top state for business

Good Job Georgia!  No. 1 State for Business.

The state scores a solid 1,659 points out of a possible 2,500, finishing at or near the top in three categories and in the top half in all but two. Since we began rating the states for competitiveness in 2007, Georgia has never finished outside the top 10 overall, with fourth-place finishes in 2007 and 2011, and a respectable eighth place in 2013.

Each year, our Top States study rates all 50 states on more than 50 metrics in 10 categories of competitiveness. We weight the categories based on how frequently they appear as selling points in state economic development marketing materials. That way, we hold the states to their own standards. 

This year's categories and point totals are:

• Cost of Doing Business (450 points)
• Economy (375 points)
• Infrastructure (350 points)
• Workforce (300 points)
• Quality of Life (300 points)
• Technology & Innovation (300 points)
• Business Friendliness (200 points)
• Education (150 points)
• Cost of Living (50 points)
• Access to Capital (25 points)

The Georgia workforce is tops in the nation, with an abundant supply of educated, largely nonunion workers. But that's not new-it's Georgia's third straight year atop our Workforce category. Click here for entire article.