State named top 10 in capital investment competitiveness
By MATTHEW CLARK, THE MORNING SUN
June 07, 2010

Using factors such as capital investment, new facilities created, existing facilities expanded, jobs created and jobs retained, Kansas ranks high in a recent study measuring business competitiveness.

Site Selection magazine was named one of the nation’s 10 most competitive states for capital investment and new facility development. The publication is billed as a “leader for site selection consultants.”

 The announcement was part of Site Selection's annual Competitiveness Awards, which were unveiled in the magazine's May edition. The Competitiveness Awards evaluate states on various criteria. The award marks the second consecutive year that the state has made the Top 10.

Virginia was listed as the top competitive states in the survey while Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Kansas rounded out the top 10.

“Our Top 10 finish in the Competitiveness Awards is just another example of how Kansas is one of the best states in the nation for business," said Bill Thornton, Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce. “We're excited to build on this success, and we look forward to another strong run of business development.”

The criteria included new and expanded facilities in 2009, total capital investment in new and expanded facilities, total new jobs created, State Gross Domestic Product per capita and state unemployment rate in February 2010.