Gary Stratton

Let's Grow with Gary

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Is Kentucky Still Settling Toward the Bottom of Business Rankings?

Over the past few years and under Republican leadership, the Commonwealth of Kentucky has become increasingly more business-friendly. Each year the business network CNBC publishes a list of the Best States for Business. This post will share where we are currently, and how we should approach making the Commonwealth of Kentucky competitive for businesses now and in the future.

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Although we are improving, we still have much work to do, to ensure our citizens have unlimited opportunities for success.

Current Rankings

For years Kentucky hovered near the bottom of this list but this year we ranked 26th for the Best States for Business. As a well-known businessman once said, “Average means that you are the best of the worst and the worst of the best.” Although we have been making decent strides and improving, Kentucky still ranks poorly in several of the variables from which this ranking is calculated. Kentucky ranks:

  • 42nd in business friendliness
  • 39th in life, health, and inclusion.
  • 38th in access to business capital
  • 38th in Education

In terms of education, I have always said it’s not about how much money you spend on education, it’s where and how you spend it. More to come on that policy topic.

What we need now

We need to focus on improving in these areas and set higher goals from the top. We have no excuses for not cracking the top 10 on this list of Best States for Business. There are just a handful of legislators who have experience in business, and even fewer with a background in economics. Electing me to the state house this November would add yet another person with the experience and background necessary to make Kentucky friendly for business. We can do this, but it takes the political will to make the tough choices to get us there. And that is exactly what Kentuckians demand.

We should be leading the charge for this from the grassroots right here in Frankfort. I ask for your vote on Tuesday, November 8th. It will make all the difference in how Frankfort can set high standards for the Commonwealth. We can do this!