Special Reports

America's Top States For Business '09

Tulips in front of the Virginia state capitol.

Victory Goes To Virginia

Virginia is back on top, squeaking past 2008's winner, Texas, by just four points. Texas remains a business powerhouse, but the Old Dominion State, always a solid performer, improved just enough in the right areas to regain the title it won in 2007.

OVERALL RANKINGS:

TOP FIVE

1. Virginia
2. Texas
3. Colorado
4. Iowa
5. Utah

BOTTOM FIVE

50. Alaska
49. Hawaii
48. Rhode Island
47. Nevada
46. West Virginia

CATEGORY RANKINGS:

BUSINESS FRIENDLINESS

1. Delaware
2. Virginia
3. South Dakota
4. Indiana
5. Colorado

ACCESS TO CAPITAL

1. California
2. Massachusetts
3. New York
4. Texas
5. Washington

COST OF DOING BUSINESS

1. Iowa
2. South Dakota
3 Arkansas
4. Missouri
5. South Carolina

COST OF LIVING

1. Arkansas (T)
1. Oklahoma (T)
3. Georgia (T)
3. Tennessee (T)
5. Kansas (T)

ECONOMY

1. Texas
2. Wyoming
3. Oklahoma
4. Iowa
5. Colorado

EDUCATION

1. Massachusetts
2. New York
3. New Jersey
4. Vermont
5. New Hampshire

QUALITY OF LIFE

1. New Hampshire
2. Connecticut (T)
2. Vermont (T)
4. Hawaii
5. Wyoming

TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION

1. California
2. New York
3. Texas
4. Illinois
5. Massachusetts

TRANSPORTATION

1. Texas
2. Ohio
3. Georgia
4. Indiana (T)
4. Kentucky (T)

WORKFORCE

1. Georgia
2. North Carolina
3. Florida
4. Arizona (T)
4. Tennessee (T)

SLIDESHOWS

Best And Worst Economies
These states ranked in the top and bottom five.
States with the Most Millionaires
Fifteen states where the wealthy are living.
Highest Unemployment Rates
Find out which states have the highest jobless rates.
Biggest Budget Gaps
These states are forecasting large gaps in their budget.
Recession-Resistant Cities
Cities that have fought off the recession.
Highest Foreclosure Rates
Ten states that have seen the most foreclosures.

TOP STATES VIDEOS

- The #1 State for Business
  Revealing the top state for business in the U.S., with Timothy Kaine, governor of the top state, and CNBC's Scott Cohn.
- No. 2 Top State for Biz
  It's CNBC's third annual look at the top states for business and CNBC's Scott Cohn reveals the No. 2 spot.
- No. 3 Top State for Business
  Continuing the countdown, with CNBC's Scott Cohn.
- Which State Is No. 4?
  A look at the No. 4 best state for business in the United States, with CNBC's Scott Cohn.
- Top States for Business: #5
  Discussing the best places do business in the U.S.A., with CNBC's Scott Cohn.

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