East Central Reporter

The Chief Executive Group recently ranked the best and worst states for business, based on a March 2021 survey of CEOs across the country.

Illinois is currently ranked third to last in the rankings, which are based entirely on the polling of 383 of the nation's CEOs from a variety of industries. The state has remained near the bottom of the list for the majority of the list's existence along with California, New York and Massachusetts, according to an article by the Chief Executive group.

However, Sen. Jason Plummer stated that Illinois' economic problems are directly related to poor public policy and that the state's economy has the potential to recover.

"We're still a state with a great workforce, tons of assets and a wonderful location. The only thing holding us back is the terrible public policies we have to endure from the majority party," Plummer said in a Facebook post, "All we need to reignite our economy and our communities is good public policy that allows Illinoisans to flourish."

According to the Chief Executive's report, some states that prioritized remaining open during the pandemic have seen significant increases in this year's rankings, including South Dakota, which jumped 12 spots to number 12 on the list.  

Additionally, the Chief Executive group reported that while the virus may be dissipating, a significant component in future economic development may be how states and cities spend the $1.9 trillion stimulus package pledged by the Biden administration.

Forty-four percent of the CEOs surveyed reported that they’re “more open than before to examining new locations” for their business, while 34 percent said they’re “considering shifting [or] opening significant operations [or] facilities in a new state.”