GREENSBORO, N.C. — North Carolina is ranked as the top state to do business in the country by two national publications.
CNBC and Business Facilities magazine both ranked North Carolina as the number one state to do business - in the country. The cited major economic development and bi-partisanship between lawmakers on the economy.
The state commerce department said 2021 was a record year. There were 185 economic development projects and more than $10 billion in investment.
Economic experts said it's not a surprise that the state is getting national recognition.
"North Carolina is a very competitive state for business," said Dr. Cephas Naanwaab, an associate economics professor at North Carolina A&T State University. "When businesses decide where to locate they typically look at three things: they look at the cost of doing business, they look at the availability of the workforce and infrastructure. North Carolina scores very highly in all three of these."
In the Triad, the arrival of Boom Supersonic at the Piedmont Triad International Airport and the Toyota battery plant at the Greensboro-Randolph Megasite are two examples of major economic growth in the state.
"We've been (ranked) number two for a while and I think it was time for us to take the number one spot and for us to win right now I think it’s a testament to all of the great leadership that we have at the legislature and also at the governor's office," said Marvin J. Price, the executive vice-president of business development at the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce.
Price said the Triad has become a hot spot in the state for development.
"Right now, we are in the prime position being one of the number one states to recruit millennial talent and with the research one universities that we have throughout the state, North Carolina, it just makes sense right now," Marin J. Price with the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce said.
Sterling Freeman started his business Little Light Series in 2020. It works to bring art education to children around the world.
The Greensboro native said North Carolina and Greensboro has been a great place to start a business.
"North Carolina has so much innovation, so many good ideas here. We have plenty of organizations that are also here to form structure for people that are looking to build their businesses like Synergy Professionals Launch Lab, Transform GSO, helping to build entrepreneurship and their jobs new ideas with people in the community," Freeman said.
Officials with the North Carolina Department of Commerce said they were pleased to see the rankings.
"North Carolina is the best place to do business in America because of our welcoming and inclusive environment, unparalleled quality of life – and the hard work and investments we’ve made to keep the state’s infrastructure and our education and workforce development systems ahead of the competition. We will continue to invest in the future, which looks bright for businesses and everyone else in North Carolina," said North Carolina Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders.