Michigan Secures Top 10 Spot in Business-Friendly State Rankings
LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 30, 2026) – For the third consecutive year, Michigan has been recognized as one of the top 10 states for business, according to the latest Area Development’s Top States for Doing Business report.
Governor Whitmer expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “Michigan is on the move and open for business. Our talented workers, driven innovators, and entrepreneurs have made Michigan a top 10 state to do business for the third year in a row.” She emphasized the state’s initiatives, including a new R&D tax credit and investments in education and workforce training.
In the latest rankings, Michigan excelled in several categories. The state retained its No. 1 position for Water and Wastewater Capacity and climbed to the top spot for Climate Risk and Resilience. Additionally, Michigan made its debut in the top 10 for several other categories:
- No. 2 in Engineering Talent & Industry Cluster Strength
- No. 6 in Access to Skilled Manufacturing Labor
- No. 8 in Availability of Industrial Sites & Buildings
- No. 8 in Innovation & Research Ecosystem
- No. 10 in Overall Speed-to-Market
Quentin Messer, Jr., CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), commented on Michigan’s business climate, stating, “Today’s ranking by Area Development is a reflection of the Team Michigan work to create a business climate that reduces barriers to growth.”
Recently, Michigan launched Michigan LIFT, a platform that connects entrepreneurs with major corporations to solve real-time business challenges. This initiative, along with the ongoing PitchMI competitions, underscores Michigan’s commitment to fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Ben Marchionna, Chief Innovation Ecosystem Officer at the MEDC, noted, “I’m pleased to see the recognition by Area Development of the critical work we’re doing to grow Michigan’s entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem.”
The MEDC continues to support Michigan’s business environment with programs such as Industry 4.0 and MTRAC to promote innovation and economic growth.
The state’s efforts in economic development have also been recognized with several accolades, including a 12-point improvement in positive sentiments about the MEDC in a recent survey, and recognition as a Top 5 state for workforce development by Site Selection.
METHODOLOGY: Area Development’s rankings are based on a survey of 50 leading site consultants, assessing states in 20 categories through a weighted system reflecting the importance of each factor. The analysis is grouped into four themes: Workforce, Talent and Innovation; Sites, Utilities and Infrastructure; Government Responsiveness and Project Execution; and Cost, Tax, and Long-Term Operating Risk.
About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)
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