Virginia Ranked Ninth in Chief Executive Magazine’s 2025 CEO Survey of Best and Worst States for Business 

RICHMOND, VA – Chief Executive magazine today announced that Virginia ranked ninth on its annual list of the Best and Worst States for Business, an improvement of three spots since last year and the first time the Commonwealth has ranked inside the top ten.

The rankings, based on polling of more than 650 CEOs and business leaders from every U.S. state, reflect Virginia’s favorable climate for business. Factors that influence rankings include the impact of a transformed global trade environment, changing regulatory frameworks, and massive demographic and technological shifts taking place across the nation.

“Virginia’s rise in this year’s CEO survey reaffirms what we know to be true – we remain one of the best places in the nation to do business,” said Virginia Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Cathie J. Vick. “Through initiatives like Blueprint Virginia 2035, we’re working closely with business and community leaders across the Commonwealth to build on this momentum and ensure that Virginia’s economic climate continues to thrive for years to come.”

As part of its mission to ensure Virginia remains the best state for business, the Virginia Chamber launched Blueprint Virginia 2035 during the 2024 Virginia Economic Summit and Forum on International Trade. This long-term strategic plan reflects the input of thousands of stakeholders across key sectors like workforce, education, healthcare, housing, innovation, and infrastructure.

Over the year, the Virginia Chamber will lead a comprehensive statewide engagement effort to support Blueprint Virginia 2035’s development and ensure it reflects the priorities of Virginia’s business community when it is presented to the Governor-elect on December 5, 2025. This work supports our continued national recognition —such as Virginia’s placement in Chief Executive’s 2025 CEO Survey—as a top state for business.

To learn more about Blueprint Virginia 2035 and how to get involved, visit www.vachamber.com.

To read more about Chief Executive’s rankings, visit: https://chiefexecutive.net/best-worst-states-for-business-the-new-world-re-order/

About the Virginia Chamber of Commerce: 

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 30,000 members. The Chamber is a non-partisan, business advocacy organization that works in the legislative, regulatory, and political arenas to act as the catalyst for positive change in all areas of economic development and competitiveness for Virginia. Learn more at https://vachamber.com/. 

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