State snubbed in quality of life list

PDF: Americas Top States for Business in 2010

Tennesseans enjoy the lowest cost of living in America, but a new study rates the quality of life in the Volunteer State as next to the worst among the 50 states.

In its annual rating of America's Top States for Business, the business news TV network CNBC ranked Tennessee as the least expensive state for residents but also one of the worst for its quality.

Among 40 measurements of competitiveness, Tennessee ranked among the top 10 for its costs, work force, transportation and business friendliness. But Tennessee was ahead of only hurricane- and oil spill-ravaged Louisiana in the quality of life measured by crime, health care and local attractions.

CNBC rates the best states for quality of life as Hawaii, Colorado and Vermont, in that order.

Tennessee boosters dismissed their low quality of life rating, noting that Tennessee has a moderate climate, diverse terrain and leads the nation in recruiting the most billion-dollar investments in the past three years with Volkswagen, Wacker Chemical and Hemlock Semiconductor LLC.

"The fact that since 2003 we have attracted more than $35 billion of investment and 180,000 jobs suggests that a lot of businesses like the quality of Tennessee," said Mark Drury, assistant commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

Mayor Ron Littlefield said the quality of Chattanooga's life "speaks for itself," noting that both Volkswagen and Alstom Power officials credited Chattanooga's quality of life in their decisions to build here.

Outside magazine rated Chattanooga as one of the 10 best towns; Money magazine placed Chattanooga among the top 25 cities for retirees, and AmericanStyle magazine recently put Chattanooga as the No. 2 arts destination city.

"Quality of life is very localized, but I know in Chattanooga we have people moving here from Atlanta and other cities all the time because our quality of life is deemed to be better," Mr. Littlefield said.

The top states overall for businesses, according to CNBC, were, in order, Texas, Virginia, Colorado, North Carolina and Massachusetts. Georgia ranked No. 10 for business, according to CNBC.

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