North Carolina is the top-ranked state for Economic Growth Potential, second in Installed Solar Capacity and third in Biotechnology Strength in Business Facilities’ 15th Annual Rankings Report for 2019.

Overall, NC ranked among the top ten in 11 of 24 categories. Business Facilities is a national publication serving corporate site selectors and economic development professionals for more than 50 years. Its rankings help businesses make location or relocation decisions.

California and New Jersey were first and second in Biotechnology Strength, putting NC third. Maryland, Massachusetts, Florida, Pennsylvania, Texas, Indiana, and Illinois, followed respectively.

The annual growth potential rankings are among Business Facilities’ top categories. BF editor in chief Jack Rogers noted that “North Carolina, Colorado and Virginia topped the chart in BF’s annual growth potential ranking.” Rogers said that “All three states have established highly diversified growth strategies and staked a claim to leadership in high-tech hubs.”

He added, “Our leaders in Economic Growth Potential each have put down markers that they are prepared to compete in the hottest emerging growth sectors.”

In its introduction to the 2019 report, the publication wrote, “We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: we’re aiming to give you more than a snapshot in time when we compile Business Facilities’ 15th Annual Rankings Report. We do our best to configure BF’s rankings categories and criteria to measure the state of play: not just who’s on top, but also who’s moving up the ladder, how fast they’re moving and who has the best chance to succeed.”

In other categories, NC ranked:

  • 9th in Semiconductors;
  • 10th in Opportunity Zones,
  • 8th in Foreign Direct Investment Projects;
  • 4th in Tech Jobs Growth,
  • 4th in Unmanned Aerial Systems,
  • 2nd in Installed Solar Power
  • 9th in Percent of Solar Power;
  • 9th in Top Manufacturing States by Employment;
  • 8th among Workforce Training Leaders.

The complete 2019 BF Rankings Report includes state, metro and international results.