For Immediate Release: December 15, 2003

For more information contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-5032

South Dakota on Pollina Corporate Real Estate, Inc.’s Top Ten Pro-Business 2004 list

            Pierre- South Dakota was recently ranked number six in the nation for its pro-business climate, Governor Mike Rounds announced today, Dec. 15, 2003.

            “This ranking confirms what we already knew – South Dakota really is one of the most pro-business states in the nation,” Rounds said. The report, issued by Pollina Corporate Real Estate of Park Ridge, IL, identified 25 factors controlled by state government including taxation, human resources and infrastructure, as well as state economic incentive programs that positively impact business and job development.

“The underlying success of business in South Dakota is the quality of our people,” Rounds said. “The fact that South Dakota scored so well shows we understand what it takes to keep jobs here and remain competitive in today’s changing economy,” he said.

Rounds said the implementation of his 2010 Initiative will further South Dakota’s standing as a great place to do business. “We are aggressively pursuing growth opportunities in our state,” Rounds said. “We are implementing changes that will make South Dakota even more exciting as a place to do business,” Rounds added, noting that the state plans to re-establish the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and alter REDI Fund rules to make money more accessible to companies. 

Dr. Ronald R. Pollina, author of the report and president of Pollina Corporate Real Estate had this to say about South Dakota. “The State of South Dakota provides a comprehensive business climate that is very appealing, featuring no corporate income tax, no inventory tax, right-to-work, and low sales and property taxes. In terms of incentives, South Dakota offers a credible workforce development training program, and up to five years of property tax abatement,” Pollina concluded.

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