2025’s Top States for Business: How the Winners Are Outpacing the Rest

Georgia is back on top — again. For the 12th consecutive year, the state has claimed the No. 1 overall ranking in Area Development’s annual Top States for Doing Business survey. While Georgia’s consistency speaks volumes, the real story in 2025 is just how competitive the field has become beneath the surface.

This year’s rankings reflect a rapidly evolving economic development landscape — one shaped by pressure on timelines, power infrastructure, and workforce pipelines. The consultant panel behind the survey made clear that states no longer rise to the top simply by offering low taxes or generous incentives. Today, it’s about execution: how quickly and reliably a state can align land, labor, logistics, and leadership behind a fast-moving project.

Click here to read the original article from Area Development.