Forbes magazine ranked Washington the fifth best state in the country to do business and says the situation here is improving:
The biggest mover (tied with Tennessee), rising from 12th to fifth place, Washington is also the only state to finish in the top five in three main categories (labor, regulatory environment and growth). And Washington's numbers are up across the board when you look both backward and at projections into the future.
Ratings like this are problematic by defintion. But this one, coming from a conservative business publication, is likely to come up during campaigns for governor and legislature over the next 18 months.
The rating gives Washington kudos in multiple categories, especially growth prospects, reduced red tape and low energy costs. The magazine says this results in innovation: "Washington has had more businesses open per capita the past three years than any other state in the U.S."
The lowest mark was for quality of life, which includes schools. The state did well despite transportation woes (which would seem to drive up costs but don't seem to have been a factor in the low quality of life score). The state's tax structure wasn't an issue.
The magazine rated Olympia as the 10th best metropolitan area for business. Spokane, Bremerton, Portland and Eugene all finished in the top 50 (out of 200 rated). Oregon moved up three places to 28th.