The 7 Best States to Start a Business
Ranking the states based on how friendly they are to entrepreneurs

When it comes to starting a business, the question of "where" can be just as important as "what," "why," and "how." Some states offer better business climates for entrepreneurs than others. And in today's economy, entrepreneurs need all the help they can get when launching a new business.

U.S. News decided to look at two comprehensive studies that take completely different approaches to measuring the friendliness of the 50 states to entrepreneurs: the 2008 New State Economy Index, by the Kauffman Foundation and the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, and the Small Business Survival Index 2008, by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council. 

They combined the rankings of these two studies to help come up with their list of the top seven states for starting a business. Click here to learn what they found.

Nevada Ranks #2 in Business Survival Index 
December 9, 2008--The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council (SBE Council) released its 13th annual rankings of the states according to their public policy climates for small business and entrepreneurship in the "Small Business Survival Index 2008: Ranking the Policy Environment for Entrepreneurship Across the Nation."

SBE Council chief economist Raymond J. Keating, author of the study, said: "The U.S. economy is in a serious downturn, and the outlook for a robust recovery seems remote. That means state and local policymakers face some very difficult decisions, especially on budget matters. Depending on the policy course that state lawmakers choose, they can either make the economic situation in their own state better or far worse."

In terms of their policy environments, the most entrepreneur-friendly states under the "Small Business Survival Index 2008" are: 1) South Dakota, 2) Nevada, 3) Wyoming, 4) Florida, 5) Washington, 6) Texas, 7) South Carolina, 8) Alabama, 9) Virginia, and 10) Colorado. The more difficult state policy environments for entrepreneurs include: 40) West Virginia, 41) Hawaii, 42) Iowa, 43) Vermont, 44) Massachusetts, 45) New York, 46) Minnesota, 47) Rhode Island, 48) Maine, 49) California, 50) New Jersey and 51) District of Columbia.

What CEOs are saying about Nevada
When Development Counsellors International (DCI) conducted its survey last summer, CEOs ranked Nevada as the 5th best business climate in the U.S.  Click here to read what CEOs are saying about Nevada.  To download a copy of the full report, visit DCI's website by clicking here.

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OFFICE OF PROTOCOL
Welcome to the Office of Protocol
 
The first office of Protocol in Nevada was established in March, 1998 under the auspices of the Nevada Commission on Economic Development and the Chief of Protocol, Gayle M. Anderson.
 
The office of Protocol's responsibilities include:
 

  • Interfacing and acting as the official liaison to the California Consular Corps, second largest in the United States and third largest in the world, which have jurisdiction over the state of Nevada.
  • Introduce Consuls General and Trade Representatives to Nevada state and local government officials, economic development officers, business leaders and to the numerous economic opportunities available in the state of Nevada.
  • Assist in the expansion of the Nevada Consular Corps.
  • Cooperate with U.S State Department in the process of accreditations for Honorary Consuls in Nevada.
  • Assist newly accredited Consuls with licensing for cars and introductions within the Nevada community.
  • Participate in organizations appropriate to the enhancement of Nevada's international image, i.e. National Protocol Officers Conferences, Consular Corps College Conferences, attend meetings in Los Angeles with the Los Angeles Consular Corps and meet with Heads of State, Foreign Ministers and Ambassadors representing foreign governments in Washington D.C.
  • Assist security representatives of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, local hotels and police entities in the handling and disposition of lost passports.
  • Assist Nevada citizens obtain visas for foreign travel.
  • Assist local businesses having facilities in foreign countries by arranging meetings with U.S. Diplomats, Trade Representatives and Representatives in the U.S. Department of Commerce.
  • Prepare letters of invitation to qualified international businesspersons wanting to do business in Nevada and assist the businesspersons by arranging meetings with the appropriate Nevada representatives wanting to do business in that specific country.
  • Participate in activities of the ethnic Chambers of Commerce, i.e. Japan America Society, Latin chamber of Commerce, Asian chamber of Commerce, Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Urban Chamber of Commerce.
  • Work closely with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
  • Promote cultural understanding between foreign countries and local businesses to further increase strong friendship and economic ties between the foreign country and Nevada.
  • Host foreign delegations, provide hotel and facilities information, determine the need for interpreters, brief officials concerning types of gifts to be presented, on cultural taboos and if known specific interests of visiting delegations.
 
 
 
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