North Carolina ranks among the top performing states on the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Enterprising States: States Innovate study released Monday, coming in at No. 10 among those with the best high-technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
The Foundation’s sixth annual Enterprising States: States Innovate study ranks the top 10 states in the categories of economic performance; transportation and trade; innovation and entrepreneurship; business climate; talent pipeline; and high-tech performance. The report findings confirm that the future of our states—and their ability to meet major economic, social and environmental challenges — rests largely on how they use and take advantage of technology.
“Enterprising States reveals that states invested in the STEM economy are likeliest to thrive, and we are seeing a migration of STEM opportunities to Middle America,” said Carolyn Cawley, managing director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in a statement.
“Technology is reshaping established fields of medicine, manufacturing, energy and business services, and shifting the spotlight from Silicon Valley to other corridors of homegrown innovation.”
The report notes that North Carolina leverages its top universities to boost technology and grow innovative startups. It cites the state’s One North Carolina program to give matching grants to small businesses as “helping entrepreneurs expand their research efforts and increase their chances of success.”
It also notes that the North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (LEAP), helps entrepreneurs in need of support to start a business. It cites the Main Street Solutions Fund which offers grants to small cities and so far this year gave grants totalilng $3.5 million to 24 communities – spurring six times that amount in local investments.
North Dakota is at the top of the study’s overall economic performance ratings, followed by Texas. Utah ranked the most consistently across all identified policy areas. It was the only state to rank in the top 10 in five of the six major lists.
Here’s the Chamber’s infographic on NC:
http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/enterprisingstates/#NC
The Foundation’s sixth annual Enterprising States: States Innovate study ranks the top 10 states in the categories of economic performance; transportation and trade; innovation and entrepreneurship; business climate; talent pipeline; and high-tech performance. The report findings confirm that the future of our states—and their ability to meet major economic, social and environmental challenges — rests largely on how they use and take advantage of technology.
“Enterprising States reveals that states invested in the STEM economy are likeliest to thrive, and we are seeing a migration of STEM opportunities to Middle America,” said Carolyn Cawley, managing director, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in a statement.
NC leverages top universities
“Technology is reshaping established fields of medicine, manufacturing, energy and business services, and shifting the spotlight from Silicon Valley to other corridors of homegrown innovation.”
The report notes that North Carolina leverages its top universities to boost technology and grow innovative startups. It cites the state’s One North Carolina program to give matching grants to small businesses as “helping entrepreneurs expand their research efforts and increase their chances of success.”
It also notes that the North Carolina Lawyers for Entrepreneurs Assistance Program (LEAP), helps entrepreneurs in need of support to start a business. It cites the Main Street Solutions Fund which offers grants to small cities and so far this year gave grants totalilng $3.5 million to 24 communities – spurring six times that amount in local investments.
North Dakota is at the top of the study’s overall economic performance ratings, followed by Texas. Utah ranked the most consistently across all identified policy areas. It was the only state to rank in the top 10 in five of the six major lists.
Here’s the Chamber’s infographic on NC:
http://www.uschamberfoundation.org/enterprisingstates/#NC
