Washington Leading the Way
by Belinda Walker, Edmonds REALTOR®
Edmonds WA Real Estate
I recently received an email from our Governor, Christine Gregoire. I thought what she had to say was very exciting and decided to share it with all of you.
Forbes Names Washington one of Top 5 states to do business in.
On July 11, 2007, business magazine Forbes recognized Washington as one of the Best States For Business in America! Their 2007 rankings vaulted us to 5th nationwide overall, up from 12th in their previous rankings.
According to Forbes, which ranks all 50 states in 10 different categories, "Virginia may be the top-ranked state for the second straight year, but Washington is the big story." A few highlights from the story:
"One of Washington's big strengths is reduced red tape. The Office of Regulatory Assistance helps individuals and businesses sort through the many layers of government regulation all in one place. If a number of state agencies need to be contacted for a new business to obtain permits, it can be handled from one source."
"That's part of why Washington has had more businesses open per capita the past three years than any other state in the U.S. Another reason: A culture of innovation. 'Innovation is the common thread throughout every industry in Washington,' says Juli Wilkerson, who heads up Washington's economic development office. Venture capital spending in the state is the fifth-highest in the country, totaling $2.6 billion the past three years..."
"With a highly educated work force and a pro-business regulatory environment, Washington is poised to remain one of the best states to do business in--and to climb even higher on next year's list."
Working together, just look at what we've done:
We've been fiscally responsible
- We've closed a budget deficit of $2 billion from the year before I took office and turned it into a $1.2 billion dollar surplus.
We've made Good Jobs with Good Wages a Priority
- We now have the lowest unemployment rate in state history.
We're Investing in the Future
- We're making significant investments in education, transportation and the environment.
Let's be proud of what we're doing to make Washington state a great place to live.
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