STATE

The recession of 2009 wasn't too harsh on Alabama's point total of 175. That was good enough for a 5th place ranking in the all-important points per million residents (PPM) ranking. Southern state performances each year are more accurately ranked on a per capita basis or based on a state's population in relation to the number of projects recruited meeting our criteria. Considering, Alabama fared pretty well this year.

Well, the only good thing about Florida's year is that it improved from the year before (up from 175 points last year) and that it didn't rank dead last in the PPM ranking for the second straight year. Improving its score in an incredibly tough year like 2009 is something Florida officials can hang their hat on. But getting out of last or next to last place in the PPM ranking is the next step. Florida ranked 15th, 16th, 17th (last) and now 16th in PPM over the last four years. Ouch!  

Down from 230 points last year, Georgia can't seem to cover all of its bases lately. In recent years, smaller markets such as Macon, Savannah, and Columbus did well while Atlanta languished. Last year, Atlanta earned its best performance in years while the rest of the state lured just six projects of 200 jobs and/or $30 million in investment. Yet, considering the economic environment in 2009, Georgia survived. 

Absolutely the best performance we have seen from Kansas in SB&D 100 history. An outstanding crop of deals with most of them coming out of Kansas City, Kan. Overland Park, which is located in the Kansas City metro, must have set an all-time record with six huge deals including JP Morgan (650 jobs), US Bank (1,174 jobs), Black & Veatch (500 jobs) and Apria Health Care (400 jobs). Also, GM added 1,300 jobs at its assembly plant in Kansas City, Kan. Just a great year from Kansas!

A poor showing for Kentucky and new governor Steve Beshear. Five big projects in a state the size of Kentucky, which still has a double-digit unemployment rate, isn't going to cut it. But then again, everyone had an excuse in 2009. We wrote last year that with 130 points, Kentucky was "flirting with disaster." Disaster struck in Kentucky in 2009 in the form of 45 total points.

Another first-place finish for Louisiana and another "Co-State of the Year," its second straight and third in four years. With 48 big deals, Louisiana is actually competing with neighboring Texas straight up. While Texas has turned the most deals every year since 1994, this year might be the closest any state comes to taking the total deal lead from the Lone State State. Louisiana was only five deals off of Texas' 53 deal total. That is a remarkable year no matter how you measure it.

A pretty good year for Maryland, its best in more than 10 years. Maryland landed the biggest logistics/distribution deal with Ports America's 2,700-employee project at the Port of Baltimore. Other deals including those by Lockheed Martin, the Census Bureau, Defense Media and L-3 Communications helped Maryland earn an Honorable Mention for the first time.

Like most Southern states, Mississippi struggled in 2009 with its lowest point total in 17 years. Although, as we wrote in the SB&D 100 story, you can't judge a state's competitiveness by its performance in a year like last year or 2008. For example, Mississippi earned more points in the first three months of this year (2010) than the 45 points it posted in this SB&D 100 (2009 data). Unfortunately, those points don't count until we publish this ranking this time next year.

Not a bad year for Missouri as it rung up 22 big deals and a middle-of-the-pack PPM ranking. The Centene headquarters operation in Clayton, Mo. is huge for St. Louis. Other deals announced by Northstar Battery, Orgill, Bank of America, Confluence Solar, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica and Flight Safety International helped Missouri in a difficult economic environment.

North Carolina is in another points free fall, which is simply a rerun of its performance after the last significant recession in 2001 and 2002. In 2000 the Tar Heel State earned 335 points. Then during the recession and post recession years it turned 310, 215, 160 and 160 points in 2004. Then, in 2005 it posted 460 points and 560 in 2006, winning "State of the Year" both years. Since then, it has been straight downhill with 375, 185, 160 and now 150 points, a record low. I guess we should expect "State of the Year" numbers next year, huh? 

We just don't know what to write about Oklahoma's 25-point year. Oklahoma has the lowest unemployment rate in the South and has sported the lowest in the South almost every month since the recession began. Still, three big deals in a year is just not acceptable. Or is it? Seems like Oklahoma is doing fine. 

After a great year last year, earning Honorable Mention, The Palmetto State had an average year in 2009. But an average performance means South Carolina survived and to survive was to prosper in 2009. But there's one thing S.C. did in 2009 that no other Southern state can claim. South Carolina landed the "2010 Deal of the Year" in Boeing's 4,000-employee, $750 million 787 assembly plant in North Charleston. 

Another monster year for The Volunteer State, earning a second straight "Co-State of the Year" honor with Louisiana. Tennessee and Louisiana are heads above all other Southern states in big deal recruitment during one of the most difficult economic development environments ever. The Nissan electric car and battery project is one of the best deals we've ever seen. There were six projects announced in the South with $1 billion or more in capital and Tennessee landed two of them.

Not a bad year for Texas, but not a great one either. But unlike many Southern states, Texas' points and deal totals didn't sink to depths never before seen. As always, Texas led all states in points and deals, but its 12th place PPM rank could use a boost next year. Regardless, Texas' overall economy remains one of the best in the entire South.

Virginia's performance in the dismal economy of 2009 was like Texas', South Carolina's, Alabama's and Georgia's; nothing to write home about but certainly one that was acceptable considering the circumstances. The SAIC headquarters relocation project is a prestigious deal as is the 1,000-employee Northrop Grumman deal. Northrop is also moving its headquarters from California to Virginia, but that deal won't count until next year. 

You can't argue with a 4th place PPM ranking. That's West Virginia's highest spot since 2006 when it ranked 2nd. West Virginia continues to fly under the radar probably because it is the South's smallest state with 1.8 million residents. But we notice every time West Virginia performs well and in 2009 it surely did.