Area Development has released its much-anticipated 2025 Top States for Doing Business rankings — and for the 12th consecutive year, Georgia claims the No. 1 spot overall. But this year’s findings reveal a more urgent story: one of tightening project timelines, growing energy demands, and a rising bar for execution in economic development.

“Speed to market is no longer a differentiator — it’s the expectation,” says Andy Greiner, editor of Area Development. “States that succeed are those that can mobilize land, labor, and infrastructure with urgency and precision.”

The Southeast continues to dominate the rankings, with South Carolina, Texas, North Carolina, and Ohio rounding out the top five. But behind the numbers lies a message from the site consultants who shaped the survey: execution matters more than ever.

This year’s coverage organizes the rankings into four core themes:

• Speed, Sites & Permitting
• Workforce Wins
• Energy, Infrastructure & Resilience
• Business Climate & Government Support

Each category includes exclusive commentary from leading site selectors across the country.

New categories like Energy Availability and Climate Risk & Resilience also reflect how site selection criteria are evolving. With grid access constraints, transformer lead times, and rising climate risks weighing heavily on location decisions, states that can deliver certainty — not just incentives — are now pulling ahead.

For the complete rankings and in-depth analysis, visit areadevelopment.com/top-states.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250924006977/en/

Speed, workforce alignment, and energy infrastructure now define the best states for doing business — not just incentives or tax breaks. Our exclusive rankings break down how the top performers are staying ahead in a tightening market.