Michigan Rated No. 3 For Most Improved State For Business

LANSING ? Michigan has been rated the Most Improved State for 2014 in an annual Top 10 Pro-Business States report. Overall, Michigan ranked no. 3 among the nation?s top 10 most populous states and no. 2 among the eight Great Lakes states, contends The American Economic Development Institute and Pollina Corporate Real Estate.

The state?s improved rank pushed it ahead of other top population states, including Georgia (ranked 22), Ohio (23), Texas (27), New York (30), Pennsylvania (39), Illinois (49) and California (50). Only N. Carolina and Florida finished ahead of Michigan at no. 11 and 15, respectively.

Michigan advanced 21 spots in this year?s Pro-Business States report, up to no. 18 from no. 39 in 2012. In its announcement, AEDI/Pollina Corporate said, ?Certainly, two of the state?s boldest moves were to pass Right to Work legislation and repeal of the maligned MBT business tax? as key factors in improving the state?s business climate.

The state?s many pro-business changes have resulted in other noteworthy improvements, including:

No. 1 for states that recovered most from the Great Recession, according to 24/7 Wall Street.

For two years in a row, ranked among the top five states for major new corporate facilities and expansions by Site Selection Magazine.

Second most business-friendly among the nation?s 10 largest states, according to the Tax Foundation.

Between 2009 and 2014, climbed 15 spots on CNBC?s Top States for Business.

First in the nation for high tech job growth from 2011-2013.

Michigan?s venture capital community is outpacing the national trend, with 23 venture capital firms that manage $1.6 billion in capital.

Michigan?s unemployment rate is the lowest it?s been in six years.

Balanced budget four years in a row.

The Pollina Corporate annual 50-state ranking indicates how well each state has or has not positioned itself to retain and create jobs as well as sustain America?s middle class. Now in its 11th edition, the study has also become an important tool for corporations to evaluate their current and future U.S. locations.