Economy & Jobs

Governor Dunleavy highlighted six straight years of job growth with unemployment at 4.7%, down from 6.3% in 2018, and wages growing at 7.7% versus the national 4.8%. He touted the Alaska LNG Project as potentially the most transformative project since the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, with Glenfarne announcing Phase One execution and $10 billion in labor and materials. He also emphasized AIDEA posting record net income and the Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport becoming the fourth-busiest cargo airport in the world.

Governor Ivey reported $69 billion in investments creating 100,000 jobs since taking office, with Alabama consistently ranking among the top 10 states for doing business. She highlighted landing Space Command headquarters and major companies including Lilly Medicine, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, and Meta. She proposed a 2% pay raise for state employees.

Governor Hobbs emphasized economic wins including TSMC's historic foreign direct investment, Cognite as the first AI company headquartered in Arizona, and Dutch Bros relocating from Oregon. She criticized Trump tariffs for raising costs and proposed eliminating the $38 million data center tax exemption, stating "it's time we make the booming data center industry work for the people of our state." She also proposed a middle-class tax cuts package worth over $200 million.

Governor Newsom highlighted California as the world's fourth-largest economy at over $4 trillion, with revenues $42.3 billion higher than forecasted. He touted the Jobs First economic blueprint with 13 regional strategies, CalCompetes tax credits, and the Film and Television Tax Credit Program. He noted half of the nation's billion-dollar startups are headquartered in California and that the state is making landmark AI regulations as a template for the nation.

Governor Polis emphasized Colorado's ranking as the fourth-best business environment by U.S. News and top state for female entrepreneurs three years running. He highlighted Boom Supersonic as a $1.5 billion company started in a Denver basement, free community college programs, and 600,000 earn-and-learn apprenticeship opportunities. He proposed creating a unified workforce development department to consolidate fragmented job training programs across seven departments.

Governor Lamont reported Connecticut has the fourth-highest economic growth in the country, with more new business startups and lower unemployment than most of the nation. He highlighted the minimum wage rising from about $10 to nearly $17 per hour during his time in office and proposed energy rebates of about $400 per family. He emphasized that six companies moved from Massachusetts to Connecticut in the past year, bringing 500 jobs.

Governor Meyer highlighted record corporate franchise success with nearly 280,000 new entities incorporated in Delaware in the first ten months of 2025, up 14%. He announced Merck's $1 billion life sciences investment and emphasized small business support through the EDGE grant program and $14 million in federal small business funding. He proposed a film tax credit, noting Delaware is one of the few states without one.

Governor Kemp reported over 219,700 new jobs and $118 billion in investment since 2019, with 64% of jobs and 75% of investment going outside metro Atlanta. Georgia has been named the number one state for business for an unprecedented 12 consecutive years. He proposed the DREAMS Scholarship with $325 million to create need-based scholarships, and highlighted workforce investments including raising teacher pay by $9,500 and fully funding the HOPE Scholarship.

Governor Green reported Hawaii has the third-lowest unemployment rate in the nation, with GDP 5% higher in 2025 than 2019 and record visitor spending per traveler. He emphasized economic diversification through healthcare, conservation, construction, and creative industries, and proposed expanding stackable film tax credits including removing the cap for productions spending $60 million or more.

Governor Reynolds highlighted over $20 billion in new capital investment since 2024, with Iowa's flat 3.8% income tax and conformity with Trump tax cuts eliminating taxes on tips, overtime, and Social Security. She emphasized Iowa's sixth-highest quarterly GDP growth rate nationally and announced a first-in-the-nation initiative granting Iowa greater control over federal education funding. She proposed property tax reforms including caps on local government revenue growth.

Governor Little presented the ENDURING IDAHO budget plan, emphasizing fiscal discipline while protecting K-12 schools and conforming to Trump tax cuts. He highlighted Idaho's third-best tax friendliness ranking and lowest per-capita debt in the nation. He championed the LAUNCH workforce training program, noting post-secondary enrollment is rising in Idaho while declining nationally, and emphasized partnerships with the Trump administration on energy, nuclear, and regulatory reform.

Governor Braun reported Indiana's real GDP is growing faster than the national rate—double Ohio's, triple Kentucky's, and six times Michigan's. He highlighted reducing the cost to bring a job to Indiana from $46,000 to $15,000, with average wages for new jobs up 10%. He emphasized Amazon's $15 billion data center investment, efforts to attract the Chicago Bears, and workforce investments including the Lonnie Camp upskilling story.

Governor Kelly highlighted landing the Kansas City Chiefs stadium and $30 billion in new business investment creating over 80,000 jobs. She noted CNBC named Kansas second in the country for cost of living and emphasized cutting over $1 billion per year in taxes including eliminating the sales tax on food. She credited bipartisan cooperation for economic success and highlighted companies like Urban Outfitters, Panasonic, and Boeing investing in the state.

Governor Beshear reported more than doubling Kentucky's previous investment record with over $45 billion in new investment and 68,000 new jobs, marking the first, second, third, and fifth-biggest years for economic development on record. His budget includes $70 million for site development, $100 million for infrastructure to support large projects, and $25 million for a rural economic development fund.

Governor Healey highlighted companies like Hasbro, LEGO, Alnylam, and Transmedics choosing Massachusetts, with the state leading in education, healthcare, and innovation. She emphasized supporting small businesses by cutting 25% of regulations and pledged to cut more. She announced plans for 100,000 apprenticeships over 10 years across building trades, nursing, early education, and technology, and highlighted the DRIVE Act for research and science investment.

Governor Moore reported attracting more than $10 billion in private investment in three years, including Microsoft's $1 billion Capital of Quantum initiative, AstraZeneca's $2 billion commitment, and the Sphere venue at National Harbor. He emphasized creating nearly 100,000 new jobs and graduating over 5,000 apprentices, with a goal of 4,000 high school Registered Apprenticeship graduates annually. He identified IT, life sciences, and aerospace/defense as lighthouse industries.

Governor Mills reported 16,200 new private sector jobs and nearly 15,000 new business filings last year, with unemployment below 4% for nearly four years. She highlighted Maine's economic growth in her first six years exceeding the entire 14 years prior and emphasized broadband connectivity reaching every person who wants a connection. She proposed making community college permanently free and investing in workforce training programs.

Governor Kehoe proposed phased elimination of Missouri's individual income tax, calling for a ballot measure to let voters decide. He emphasized fiscal discipline with a budget reducing over $600 million from the general revenue core operating budget and previewed broadening the sales tax base to modern services while protecting agriculture, healthcare, and real estate from new sales taxes.

Governor Pillen reported Nebraska's economy growing at the sixth-highest quarterly GDP rate nationally and setting population records above 2 million for the first time. He highlighted Nebraska's first billion-dollar "unicorn" company, CompanyCam, and proposed the Grow the Good Life Incentive offering a 10% tax credit for a decade to businesses bringing new high-paying workers to the state. He emphasized Nebraska ethanol being number one in America.

Governor Ayotte highlighted New Hampshire as #1 for economic opportunity, #1 for economic freedom, with the lowest tax burden in the country. She emphasized six companies moving from Massachusetts in the past year, bringing 500 jobs, and stressed the importance of housing, workforce training, and childcare as interconnected economic development priorities. She called for creating a tax credit for companies investing in childcare for their workforce.

Governor Sherrill (newly inaugurated) focused on affordability, declaring a State of Emergency on utility costs and signing executive orders to pause new utility rate increases and open solicitations for new power generation. She pledged to lower costs, support small businesses, and fight federal tariffs that are "harming so many store owners and keeping costs high." She emphasized making New Jersey more affordable for working families.

Governor Lujan Grisham reported New Mexico ranks ninth nationally in GDP growth, third in business applications, and first in family income growth. She highlighted $150 million in proposed tax credits for next-generation technologies like quantum computing and fusion energy, alongside Pacific Fusion's $1 billion investment and XGS Energy's $1.2 billion geothermal partnership. She noted 150,000 jobs added during her tenure.

Governor Hochul reported over 8.5 million private sector jobs, nearly a million more than when she took office. She highlighted Micron, GlobalFoundries, and Eli Lilly's $3.5 billion Lehigh Valley investment as major wins. She proposed expanding nuclear energy goals to 5 gigawatts, launched free community college for adult learners with 11,000 enrolled, and emphasized that New York's economy is the only one in the Northeast actually growing according to Moody's.

Governor Armstrong focused his special session address on the $199 million federal Rural Health Transformation award but noted the importance of strong economic foundations. His remarks emphasized using federal investments wisely without creating unsustainable programs, reflecting fiscal conservatism in economic planning.

Governor Stitt reported the strongest economy in state history, with median income increasing nearly $11,000, unemployment among the nation's lowest, and $1.6 billion in tax cuts. He championed the Path to Zero income tax plan and proposed a Taxpayer Endowment Fund seeded with $750 million. He emphasized diversifying the economy while maintaining one of the lowest unemployment rates nationally.

Governor Shapiro reported creating over 21,500 jobs and securing over $39 billion in private sector investment in three years—more than the previous 15 years combined. He highlighted Eli Lilly's $3.5 billion Lehigh Valley investment and collected $417 million more in revenue than estimated. He emphasized Pennsylvania's bond rating going up twice, saving taxpayers over $200 million, and proposed sustainable transit funding for economic competitiveness.

Governor McKee reported over 36,000 private sector jobs added since the start of his administration, with business applications growing 16.2% while declining nationally. He highlighted AAA Northeast choosing Rhode Island over Massachusetts for 370 new jobs and proposed $600 million in bond proposals to "Keep Rhode Island Building" across business, higher education, K-12, and housing infrastructure.

Governor McMaster announced over $9.1 billion in new capital investment and 8,100 new jobs in 2025, with $53.7 billion total since 2017. He highlighted specific companies including Hampton Lumber, Isuzu North America, and Woodward Inc. investing hundreds of millions. He emphasized seven consecutive years of frozen college tuition, workforce training through technical colleges, and nuclear energy leadership with plans to restart V.C. Summer Nuclear Station construction.

Governor Rhoden emphasized South Dakota's strong economic fundamentals including the second most competitive tax system, second least regulations, lowest unemployment rate, and growing incomes exceeding the national average. He proposed cutting owner-occupied property taxes through a local option sales tax replacement and highlighted national security as the state's next big economic development focus, citing MMS Products' $35 million drone munitions contract.

Governor Lee reported $11 billion invested in Tennessee in 2025, 300,000 new jobs over his tenure, and Tennessee named the best business environment in America. He announced an additional $25 million for the Nuclear Fund after Tennessee was named #1 for nuclear energy development, launched the Tennessee Quantum Initiative, and highlighted Memphis ranking #1 for economic development projects. He emphasized 50% of business investment going to rural counties.

Governor Cox's address focused more on civic virtue and foundational priorities like literacy and housing than specific economic metrics, but he emphasized housing affordability as critical to ensuring "Utah will not become a state of renters" and called for zoning and permitting reform to keep homeownership within reach for working families.

Newly inaugurated Governor Davis (Abigail Spanberger) pledged to grow Virginia's economy in every corner of the Commonwealth, invest in apprenticeships and job training, bring capital investment to every region, stand up for Virginia's federal workforce, and expand opportunities for agriculture. She emphasized making life more affordable while protecting healthcare access and lowering energy costs.

Governor Scott's address focused primarily on education reform rather than economic development specifically, but he emphasized that education transformation is essential to growing the economy, building a skilled workforce, and making Vermont more affordable. He noted the need to attract more people to live in Vermont and add taxpayers rather than always looking for new taxes.

Governor Ferguson reported Washington has the 9th largest economy, a Triple-A bond rating, and the largest increase in business applications in the country at 16.2% growth while nationwide applications dropped 5%. He highlighted fusion energy development in Chelan County, the Cascadia Sustainable Aviation Accelerator, and proposed a Millionaires' Tax with revenue directed to working families tax credits and eliminating B&O taxes for small businesses grossing under $1 million.

Governor Evers reported average annual wages up nearly 26% over six years with 2024 median wages at an all-time record high. He highlighted record-high employment, record-low unemployment, and over $2 billion in annual tax relief for taxpayers. He emphasized 127,000 workers receiving career training, record apprenticeship enrollment, and Wisconsin's travel and tourism industry reaching $25.8 billion in economic impact. He proposed investments in AI workforce training and clean energy.

Governor Morrisey announced more than $4.5 billion in new private sector investment and a projected 4,200 jobs in recent months. He highlighted the microgrids law as a major economic development driver attracting nationwide interest, with potential investments totaling tens of billions. He proposed the Workforce Readiness & Opportunity Act for micro-credentialing and portable benefits, and emphasized tourism surpassing $9 billion in annual economic impact.

Governor Gordon emphasized Wyoming's energy and mineral industries as the foundation of prosperity, noting the Permanent Mineral Trust Fund produced $913 million as the largest single source of state income. He highlighted the Wyoming Stable Token as the first state-issued dollar-backed digital token, tourism contributing $4.9 billion in direct spending, and agriculture export growth to Asian markets. He called for rejuvenating the Wyoming Business Council rather than eliminating it.