2006 SB&D 100 State Summary

The state of Alabama continues its remarkable climb from Southern economic obscurity 15 years ago to worldwide economic development prominence today. Small states in the South don't turn 400-point years. In fact, it's rare when small states in the South earn 300-point-plus years. But that total is now old hat for the Heart of Dixie. Alabama has topped that threshold three-years-running now. For the fourth-straight year, Alabama has earned "State of the Year" honors. Since we began this ranking in 1993, no Southern state has won State of the Year four times and Alabama has done it in four years-in-a-row. Wow!

In 2005, Arkansas passed on the huge SeverCorr startup steel plant that is now being built in Columbus, Miss. SeverCorr's founder wanted his new plant to be located in Arkansas. The state could have used the new $200 million big deal fund its government approved two years earlier to secure that deal. But since it didn't, maybe that pass could mean Arkansas already has a new Toyota plant in its back pocket. The 85 points is an improvement over last year, but 2005 was nothing more than an average year for Arkansas.

A good year for Florida. The Sunshine State added 23 more big deals in 2005 than it turned in 2004 and earned 530 points, its highest mark since last winning "State of the Year" honors in 2002 when it rung up 645 points. Florida officials need to continue to focus like a laser on job creation. The state's population growth shows no sign of slowing. An Honorable Mention earned nonetheless.

You look at the points and it looks like a bum year for the Peach State. After all, Georgia's points are its third-worst in SB&D 100 history and its per capita ranking is near the bottom in the South. The only years when Georgia earned less than 200 points were the recession years of 2001 and 2002. But Georgia's performance in 2005 is much better than it looks. Atlanta contributed but a mere 45 points to Georgia's total, which means solid numbers coming from the rest of the state.

A banner years for Kansas. Kansas' performance in 2005 earned its first "State Honorable Mention" as it rung up 135 points and its highest per capita ranking ever. Kansas turned some impressive deals in 2005, particularly in the Kansas City metro. Kansas showed signs of a solid comeback last year when it earned 105 points, quadrupling its woeful 25-point total in 2003.

Kentucky posts another year of methodical improvement. The 205 points is its best year in five years after turning 195 points last year and 180 the year before. Like most Southern states, Kentucky struggled early this decade. But it has performed consistently in the last three years and we have noticed.

Louisiana has had better years than this one. Yet, 2005 cannot be compared to any year in Louisiana economic development history. Considering the effects of the 2005 hurricane season in the state, the 115-point total is nothing short of remarkable.

BRAC deals are not easy to follow considering they project job creation into the future for so many years. But there's no question Maryland fared well in the latest round of federal government defense-related new job relocation and generation deals. But another last place per capita ranking is not good.

Like Louisiana, 2005 was an economic development year unlike any other in Mississippi. Mississippi opted out of the Kia deal, which made plenty of headlines in 2005. While 2005 is a year to forget in Mississippi, there's a high-level of confidence among economic development officials in the Magnolia State. After all, as a result of the hurricanes of 2005, there's billions in the Mississippi war chest for locating industry for years to come.

Led by deals in the Kansas City metro, as well as one of St. Louis' best performances in a while, Missouri added 45 points to last year's total and posted its best score since 2001. Even though deals increased in Missouri, it really needs to break the 200-point mark, a threshold it hasn't crossed since 1997.

A monster performance for the second consecutive year in the Tar Heel State. The 560 points tallied and 3rd place per capita finish is North Carolina's best score since 1993. You read that right -- the best year turned by North Carolina in a dozen years. Along with Alabama, North Carolina is leading the way in the South and shares "State of the Year" honors for the second consecutive year.

Results from the 2006 SB&D 100 come from calendar year 2005. Of course, 2005 is an odd-number year. Apparently Oklahoma takes odd years off when it comes to job and investment generation, but makes up for it in even-numbered years. For example, in 2005 Oklahoma earned 75 points. In 2003 it tallied 85 points, 120 in 2001 and 80 in 1999. But in 2004 the Sooner State posted 170 points, 175 in 2002 and an impressive 270 in 2000. Our question to Oklahoma officials is, how do you get away with taking a year off 'cause we want to take a year off, too?

Not a bad year for the Palmetto State, but it has done better. Last year S.C. came back strong with 225 points after a couple of down years. But it has posted high-200-point years consistently and even one low-300-point year in the past. Regardless, there were some big deals turned by well known companies in S.C. last year.

This year's SB&D 100 has been pretty average for most states in the South. Tennessee's year fits in the average category. The Volunteer State has posted plus-400-point years in the past. For many years, Tennessee was a leader in job creation in its rural regions. That is what's missing this year. Memphis, Nashville, Chattanooga and Knoxville held their own this year. Rural Tennessee didn't show.

What is the fascination with Texas' performance in recent years? Granted, the Lone Star State has made a consistent comeback from a dismal time during the recession. In 2002 Texas hit rock bottom with just 355 points. Since then Texas has posted 695, 700 and now 765 points. Those totals do represent a consistent comeback but pale in comparison to 1,100-plus-point years in the mid-and-late 1990s. Alabama and North Carolina are turning more deals than ever and that includes the go-go '90s. Texas is trying hard to get where it once was.

Virginia's year is only somewhat better than Tennessee's, or, more accurately described in Virginia as run-of-the-mill. Virginia's points have been consistent, with the last four years averaging 415. This year it didn't quite muster enough points to reach that average, but as always some of the most impressive deals announced in the South came from the Dominion State.

An excellent year (2nd per capita) for West Virginia, enough to warrant an "Honorable Mention." Toyota loves W.V. and has invested in its engine plant in Putnam County, W.V. many times. This year was no exception. In 2005 there were five deals announced in W.V. with investments that totaled almost $1.5 billion (that's with a "b").

* Points Per Million Residents