U.S. Chamber of Commerce Enterprising States 2012

An in-depth look at specific priorities, policies and programs of the 50 states and Puerto Rico

The National Chamber Foundation advances cutting-edge issues facing the U.S. business community through its nationally-recognized leadership team. Together, they serve as the principal leadership of the public policy think tank of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

One product of the Foundation’s research, Enterprising States 2012, takes an in-depth look at the specific priorities, policies and programs of the 50 states and Puerto Rico. Generally, the states fostering economic growth and creating jobs today – and those most likely to grow in the next decade – are defined by the following broad policy approaches:

• Parlaying their natural resources and historically competitive industry sectors into 21st century job-creating opportunities
• Paying attention to and addressing their competitive weaknesses
• Supporting their companies’ business development efforts to reach an expanding global marketplace
• Creating a fertile environment and workforce for a technology-based and innovation-driven economy
• Investing in infrastructure ­– digitally and physically engineered – that meets the operating requirements of business and connects businesses to markets and customers
• Getting government, academia, and the private sector to collaborate effectively to make sure that more new ideas developed by companies and in research labs scale up into industries
• Taking steps to make existing firms more productive and innovative, creating an environment in which new firms can emerge and thrive
• Maintaining an affordable cost of living for middle-skilled and middle-class employees
• Promoting education, workforce development and entrepreneurial mentoring to continually fill the talent pipeline
• Fostering an enterprise-friendly business environment by cleaning up the DURT (delays, uncertainty, regulations, and taxes), modernizing government, and fixing deficiencies in the market that inhibit private-sector investment and entrepreneurial activity.

State policies and programs that most effectively promote job creation are rooted in market reality. This means building on the existing core industries and technological advantages of a state while pursuing opportunities in growing and emerging sectors. Building on and sustaining existing economic momentum remains a key means of guaranteeing success in the future.

Below are the rankings for Maryland.  To see the entire report, go to: http://forum.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/Enterprising-States-2012-web_59.pdf

Maryland

• #1 Academic R&D Intensity
• #2 High School Advanced Placement Intensity
• #3 High-tech Share of All Businesses
• #3 STEM Job Concentration
• #5 Median Family Income
• #8 Tax Environment for Mature Firms
• #10 Broadband Provider Availability
• #10 Educational Attainment
• #10 Productivity Growth
• #11 College Affordability
• #12 Economic Output per Job
• #12 STEM Job Growth
• #14 Short-term Job Growth
• #15 Broadband Speed Availability
• #16 Per Capita Income Growth
• #18 Gross State Product Growth
• #19 Business Birth Rate