Forbes: “Virginia’s rank falls three spots thanks to higher business costs and a declining economic climate. The state ranked among the top two states every year from 2006 through 2013.”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Oct. 23, 2015

CONTACT:
Paul Logan
703-403-6464
p.logan@vachamber.com

RICHMOND – Barry DuVal, President and CEO of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, issued the following statement regarding Virginia’s drop for the second straight year to #7 in the annual Forbes Best States for Business Ranking. The full ranking, released this week, is available at http://www.forbes.com/best-states-for-business/list/

“Virginia has dropped in the last two years from the top state for business to number seven in the Forbes Best State for Business ranking. Virginia ranks in the bottom half of states in business costs and economic climate, as we have produced four straight years of economic growth below the national average. We have an urgent need to reverse this decline by implementing the goals of Blueprint Virginia through pro-business policies that will strengthen and grow Virginia’s economy.”

ABOUT THE VIRGINIA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:

The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is the largest business advocacy organization in the Commonwealth, with more than 23,500 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.

ABOUT BLUEPRINT VIRGINIA:

Blueprint Virginia is a comprehensive initiative to provide business leadership, direction and long-range economic development planning for Virginia. For twelve months over 2012-2013, the Blueprint process engaged business and community leaders from around the state through grassroots involvement. Briefings were held in more than 30 communities where hundreds of Virginia citizens voted on priority issues for their region and the state. The Blueprint Virginia project collaborated with more than 300 organizations and over 7,000 participants to develop “A Business Plan for the Commonwealth,” which provides elected officials and private sector leaders with a roadmap for economic competitiveness.

More information regarding Blueprint Virginia is available at http://www.vachamber.com/blueprint-virginia-plan/