America's Top States For Business '09

#37 South Carolina

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(Photo: iStockphoto)

Category	Score	2009 Rank	2008 Rank
Cost of Doing Business	314	5	9
Workforce	254	6	2
Quality of Life	80	48	49
Economy	48	47	39
Transportation & Infrastructure	75	41	4
Technology & Innovation	100	29	31
Education	64	39	37
Business Friendliness	65	35	28
Access to Capital	14	36	25
Cost of Living	16	19	15
OVERALL	1030	37	29

ECONOMIC PROFILE

Governor: Mark Sanford (R)

Population: 4,479,800

GDP (2008 per capita): $28,364

Economic Change (2007-2008): 0.6%

Unemployment Rate (June 2009): 12.1%

Foreclosure Rate (June 2009): One per 1,199 households

Stimulus Funds Distributed (as of July 8, 2009): $4.5 billion

Budget Gap (projected 2010): $725 million

Sources: US Government, RealtyTrac, Center for Budget & Policy Priorities

FEATURED

Virginia Reclaims #1 Spot
Virginia is No. 1 in our 2009 Top States for Business ranking, taking back the top spot from last year's winner, Texas.
State by State (#1-50)
Complete Rankings for 2009
Categories & Criteria
Archive: 2008 Top States For Business Results
Archive: 2007 Top States For Business Results

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.

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.

Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
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America's Top States For Business '09

STATE BY STATE

ECONOMIC PROFILE

FEATURED

TOP STATES VIDEOS

SLIDESHOWS