North Carolina Ranks 2nd Most Favorable Business Climate in the Nation

According to the "Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing" survey of U.S. corporate executives conducted by the Development Counsellors International, North Carolina ranks second in the nation for a favorable business climate. Perceptions about a location’s business climate can play a critical role in investment and job creation.

Read on for a press release with details on the survey....

Corporate execs see Texas, NC, SC as best for business
Tech Journal South
September 19, 2011

Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina are viewed as having the best business climates among the 50 states, according to a new survey of U.S. corporate executives.

The poll pinpointed California, New York and Illinois as the U.S. states with the least favorable business climates.

Conducted by Development Counsellors International (DCI) every three years, the “Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing” survey has tracked trends in economic development since its inception in 1996.

“With the battle for business more intense than ever, states and their economic development organizations need to pay close attention to the results of this survey,” said DCI President Andrew T. Levine. “Whether accurate or misguided, perceptions about a location’s business climate often play a crucial role in site selection decisions and where companies invest money and create jobs.”

Half the firms to make relocation decisions

Nearly half (46%) of the 322 corporate executive who responded to the survey indicated that their firm would make a location decision in the next 24 months – whether a move, expansion or consolidation of a manufacturing plant, offices, distribution center or other facilities. More than half (51%) said that they would outsource a portion of the site selection process to a real estate broker or site selection consultant.

Texas was the clear-cut favorite among the respondents to the survey, with 49.4% naming the Lone Star state as having one of the most favorable business climates in the nation. North Carolina ranked second with 27.8%; South Carolina has 14.3% of the votes.

Texas and North Carolina have consistently landed in the top spots since the survey began more than a decade ago.Texas has held the #1 ranking since 1999, while North Carolina has been #2 since 2002. South Carolina, Tennessee andFlorida have frequently traded top positions in the survey and 2011 marks the return of South Carolina to the #3 slot.

Low operating costs a top concern

When asked why they selected the states they did as being best for business, the corporate executives frequently cited low operating costs and a pro-business climate. In the 2008 survey, more executives pointed to the availability of a strong workforce than they did in 2011.

For the fourth consecutive time, California was deemed as having the least favorable business climate, with 70.5% of the responses. New York was named second most frequently with 46.5%, followed by Illinois (24.4%) Taxes, high costs and “anti-business climate/regulation” spurred most of the negative opinions.

The comprehensive survey also asked a series of questions to divine the most effective economic development marketing tools, the leading sources of information that influence executive perceptions of a community’s business climate and the most important factors in business location decisions.

DCI conducted the survey online, polling a random selection of C-level executives at U.S. companies with annual revenues of$25 million or more. The survey was augmented by 250 location advisors/consultants.

For a free copy of the full “Winning Strategies” survey report or an executive summary, see: www.aboutdci.com/winning-strategies<http://www.aboutdci.com/winning-strategies>.

###

Karen Caruso of Mind Your Business, Inc. is 2011 U.S. Small Business Person of the Year

Congratulations to Chamber member Karen Caruso of Mind Your Business, Inc., who was recently named U.S. Small Business Person of the Year!

Washington, DC — May 21, 2011 — The U.S. Small Business Administration just announced that Karen Caruso, CEO of Mind Your Business, Inc. has been named 2011 U.S. Small Business Person of the Year at Small Business Week 2011’s culminating award ceremony in Washington, DC. Caruso edged out the tough competition – esteemed small business owners from the other 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam – to win the high honor.

Caruso reflected on her win: “I feel privileged to have been chosen for this award by the SBA among such an extraordinary group of fellow small business owners, all of whom are adding value every day to the nation’s economy. I couldn’t have achieved this without my team and partners in North Carolina and across the country.”

Based in Hendersonville, NC, Mind Your Business conducts pre-employment screening, applicant background checks, and drug and alcohol testing services for national and international clients, including individuals, corporations, and government entities.

The empowering story of Mind Your Business’s inception and growth – combined with Caruso’s continued corporate leadership – perfectly align with the characteristics required of a U.S. Small Business Person of the Year, including company longevity; employee growth; product or service innovation; and personal resilience. In 1996 – with $2500, one employee, a personal computer, and a vision – Caruso launched Mind Your Business in the basement of her New Jersey home. Today, the company employs 15 full time employees and several hundred sub-contractors, and serves over 1500 businesses worldwide. Despite the tough economy, Mind Your Business posted record profits in 2009 and 2010.

Caruso concluded, “It’s particularly rewarding as a woman and single mother to be recognized, and I honor the many other female leaders who share my work ethic and commitment to excellence.”

For more information, visit: http://www.mybinc.com/

###

The Veteran Small Business Forum August 16

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Veterans Business Outreach Center are presenting a Veterans Small Business Forum. Join small business experts in the western North Carolina area for this special, half-day forum on starting and growing a small business.

View a PDF of these details

This forum is geared toward U.S. military veterans and their spouses, and active duty, guard and reserve members who own or are interested in starting a small business. The forum will feature several panel discussions on topics of inter-est to the existing or prospective small business owner.

Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2011.

Time: From 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

Location: - The Grove Arcade Conference Room at the Grove Arcade, One Page
Ave., downtown Asheville.
- Directions here: http://www.grovearcade.com/map-directions/
- Enter only through the Page Avenue entrance that morning and take the
freight elevator to the lower level of the Grove Arcade.

Cost: Free of charge.

Registration: Due to limited seating, advance registration is required; contact Lisa
Belcher at lbelche1@uncfsu.edu or (910) 672-2683 on or before Tues-
day, August 9.

Parking: Parking is available at the Wall Street Parking Garage directly across the
street from the Arcade. Metered parking is also available.

Agenda:
8:00 a.m. Sign-in and continental breakfast
8:30 Welcome and opening remarks
8:45 Panel: Kick-starting Your Business (how to start a small business)
9:45 Break
10:00 Panel: All About the Money (financing a small business, plus tax issues)
11:00 Panel: Strategies for Growing Your Business (marketing, social networking and
other tips to expand your small business)
12:00 Closing remarks and adjournment

Chamber Welcomes CAYLA Intern Alex Mitchiner

The Chamber is hosting an intern from the City of Asheville Youth Leadership Academy (CAYLA) this summer. CAYLA is a program provides students with meaningful summer work experience, leadership development through seminars and community service, and college preparatory activities. Since its inception in 2007, CAYLA has been nationally-recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

The Asheville Chamber is thrilled to have Alex Mitchiner join us this year. Keevon Baten was our intern last year, and you can read about his experience here.

Alex spent her first week with the Convention & Visitors Bureau and wrote about her experience....

The Asheville Chamber of Commerce is a fantastic place to be. I am currently a rising senior and am doing an internship there. This place is so full of energy and alive. Everyone is so friendly and it truly is a positive environment to be in.

I’m currently working in the CVB (convention visitor’s bureau) department. Just the other day we went and toured a bed and breakfast called the White Gate Inn. It was gorgeous!!!! It includes not only the main house but extra rooms in separate cottages, and a green house filled with all sorts of beautiful plants. Almost every room we visited had a Jacuzzi and that was the best part to me. One thing that really stood out to me was the chocolate plant. It actually smelled like chocolate but wasn’t edible. I’ve been learning about all the different departments on the CVB floor. It’s crazy how one department has so many obligations.

Tourism is a major deal here. Just after receiving the knowledge I have now I look at the tourism industry from a completely different perspective. Usually I get frustrated when stuck behind slow drivers that are trying to head to the Biltmore House, and now I know that the business they are providing is strengthening our economy and I can appreciate them more. So I will no longer be so frustrated with these slow drivers but try to smile and point them in the right direction.

Marketing is a little bit more complicated. Trying to catch a readers eye by not being to wordy and holding their attention long enough to get the message across is rather difficult. The marketing department also uses the media to get information out there. Facebook, Twitter, and other sites are used to publicize events and provide vital information to the public. The home website also needs to get a certain number of people to look at the website and ensure that the information provided is being looked at by viewers. You really need to be heavily skilled with a computer to be successful in that area.

I’m really happy that I’m going to be at the Asheville Chamber of Commerce this summer. I’ve only been here for a few days and I love it. I’m really excited about visiting the other departments and seeing everything that goes on here. This place seems like a great place to work and become a part of.

-- Alex Mitchiner, 2011 Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce CAYLA Intern

Chamber Provides Input on HB 800

The Asheville Chamber and the Economic Development Coalition provided recommendations and input on HB 800 this week at the North Carolina General Assembly. HB 800 seeks to redesign and reorganize the way economic development would take place in North Carolina.

HB 800 was introduced by Representative Murry of Wake County and was cosponsored by Representative Moffitt of Buncombe County. You can see the legislation here. The Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce joined the North Carolina Chamber, Raleigh Chamber and the North Carolina Economic Developers Association to provide input on the bill.

The Chamber made these six recommendations for the legislation:

1) We would prefer not to place the needs of business - economic development efforts under the university system
2) We would like to see strong emphasis on client -customer service (efficiency- fast response and incentives) – i.e.- a goal such as an incentive package in 2 business days
3) Heavy emphasis on investment -return on investment
4) Rely on regional partnerships- not 100 counties
5) Ask clients how we can improve our services
6) Thomas Ticknor’s Report: Implement outside resources to critique North Carolina's economic development tactics

The Chamber would like to thank Rep. Murry for his service to North Carolina and desire to work with and hear from business organizations.

The Public Policy department is constantly watching and tracking the hundreds of bills introduced at the legislature. If there is legislation you are interested in please contact Jeff Joyce at jjoyce@ashevillechamber.org.