CNBC's ninth annual study once again puts all 50 states to the test, measuring them on more than 60 different metrics in ten key categories of competitiveness.
Top States For Business

17. Tennessee

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Category Score 2015 Rank 2014 Rank
Workforce25986
Cost of Doing Business2291213
Infrastructure23734
Economy16131 (Tie)14
Quality of Life695050
Technology & Innovation1212728
Education7242 (Tie)39
Business Friendliness108818
Cost of Living7429
Access to Capital331833
Overall13631714

Economic Profile

Governor: Bill Haslam, Republican

Population: 6,549,352

GDP growth: 1.7 percent

Unemployment rate (May 2015): 5.8 percent

Top corporate tax rate: 6.5 percent

Top individual income tax rate: 6 percent on dividends and interest income

Gasoline tax: 39 cents/gallon

Bond rating/outlook: Aaa/stable

Major private employer: Covenant Health

Economic profile sources: Federation of Tax Administrators, American Petroleum Institute, Moody's Investor Service, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, East Tenessee Economic Development Agency

FULL LIST: 2015 TOP STATES FOR BUSINESS

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