America's Top States For Business 2013

#13 Tennessee

Nashville, Tennessee
Malcolm MacGregor | Flickr | Getty Images
Nashville, Tennessee
Category
Score
2013 Rank
2012 Rank
Cost of Doing Business 289 14 27
Workforce 220 5 11
Quality of Life 74 49 48
Infrastructure & Transportation 233 2 4
Economy 263 9 12
Education 54 45 41
Technology & Innovation 150 25 25
Business Friendliness 132 18 6
Cost of Living 49 2 2
Access to Capital 12 27 29
Overall 1476 13 16

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Governor: Bill Haslam (R)

Population: 6,456,243

GDP growth: 3.3 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2013): 8.3 percent

Top corporate rate: 6.5 percent

Top individual tax rate: 6.0 percent

Gasoline tax: 21.4 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/Stable

Major private employers: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Eastman Chemical Co., Nissan North America Inc., GM Spring Hill Plant, M. Modal Inc., Carlisle Companies, Gaylord Opryland Resort, St. Thomas Hospital, University of Tennessee, Covenant Transportation 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