The odds are a lot better than any state lottery. One in 50 to win.
So, catch the top five countdown of CNBC's fifth edition of "America's Top States For Business" on CNBC Tuesday, June 28.
The 2011 countdown kicked off on "Squawk Box" at 7:15 a.m. ET, with Scott Cohn, senior correspondent and the survey's creator, reporting from an undisclosed location in the winning state.
Based on previous years, the winner won't be the only surprise. There's been plenty of movement within the top five thus far, with each year providing at least one new member.
Complete 2010 Rankings
Cohn's revealed three of the top five states already (see below). No. 2 will be revealed on "Street Signs"(2:20 p.m ET) and No. 1, the winner, on "Closing Bell" and CNBC.com around 4:30 p.m.
Naming Names
We've been giving you hints on the air and in this space for each of the five states before we reveal them. Be advised, though; the hints contain just a few words and they're not easy.
- Hint For No. 5 — Cheeseburger in Paradise?
Colorado is the disputed birthplace of the cheeseburger. A stone marker in Denver notes that Louis Ballast, owner of the Humpty Dumpty Barrel drive-in trademarked the word "cheeseburger" in 1935. But Kaelin's restuarant in Louisville, KY claims to have a 1934 menu that offers a cheeseburger. We're going with the trademark.)
- Hint For No. 4 — Hen Heaven
Georgia is host to the annual International Poultry Trade Show, the largest poultry convention in the world. More than 20,000 attended this year. People, that is. No word on how many hens, roosters, etc.)
- Hint For No. 3 — A Babe is Born
North Carolina is where a baseball legend began. In March of 1914, a young George Herman Ruth made his first trip outside his native Baltimore when the Orioles held spring training in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There, the young phenom is said to have hit his first home run, in an exhibition game on March 7, 1914. Off the field, his youth and inexperience while in Fayetteville are said to have earned him the nickname "Babe."
- Hint For No. 2 — Gone Batty
Texas is home to more species of bats than any other state. According to Texas Tech University, in addition to the 32 species of bats living in the state today, four others are known from fossil remains.)
- Hint For No 1 — Home Of Houston
Virginia, of course, the land of generals and presidents. Major General Sam Houston — of Texas fame and rank — was born in Virginia on March 2, 1793, in a log cabin in Timber Ridge in the Shenandoah Valley.)
Check out the complete listings at topstates.cnbc.com.
- Complete Rankings: 20102009 20082007