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2. Texas

The Lone Star State is in a class by itself for consistent business strength. But education and quality of life lag.

Category
Score
2015 Rank
2014 Rank
Workforce 230 20 11
Cost of Doing Business 205 21 23
Infrastructure 267 1 1
Economy 275 2 1
Quality of Life 137 33 (Tie) 37
Technology & Innovation 172 11 (Tie) 2
Education 99 28 27
Business Friendliness 96 14 20
Cost of Living 54 15 18
Access to Capital 45 6 5
Overall 1580 2 2

Economic Profile

Governor: Greg Abbott, Republican

Population: 26,956,958

GDP growth: 5.2 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2015): 4.3 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 0 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 0 percent

Gasoline tax: 38 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/stable

Major private employer: H-E-B Super Market Chain

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Antonio Economic Development Foundation

FULL LIST: 2015 TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

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