America's Top States For Business 2013

#11 Iowa

Des Moines, Iowa.
Jeremy Woodhouse | Getty Images
Des Moines, Iowa.
Category
Score
2013 Rank
2012 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 296 13 5
Workforce 119 40 37
Quality of Life 205 14 19
Infrastructure & Transportation 190 28 31
Economy 274 5 3
Education 86 15 30
Technology & Innovation 129 30 28
Business Friendliness 156 9 10
Cost of Living 35 16 19
Access to Capital 10 31 28
Overall 1500 11 12

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Governor: Terry Branstad (R)

Population: 3,074,186

GDP growth: 2.4 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2013): 4.6 percent

Top corporate rate: 12 percent

Top individual tax rate: 8.98 percent

Gasoline tax: 22 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/Stable

Major private employers: Principal Financial Group Inc., University of Iowa Health Care, Rockwell Collins Inc., Iowa State University, Blank Children's Hospital, Mercy Medical Center, Genesis Medical Center, Pella Corp, Transamerica Life Insurance Co., CRST International Inc., Financial Markets Group

Economic profile sources: American Petroleum Institute (April 2013), Bureau of Economic Analysis (2012), Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2013 release), CareerOneStop, Moody's Investors Service (senior-most tax-backed ratings), National Governors Association, Tax Foundation (2013), U.S. Census Bureau (2012 estimate)

From the Governors

America's Top States For Business 2013 Video