Tennessee and Louisiana were named Co-State of the Year by Southern Business and Development magazine's "Top Deals and Hot Markets" annual ranking. The rankings recognize successful state economic development efforts, taking into account companies making public commitments of 200 jobs or more or $30 million in capital investment.

“The Volunteer State has landed several of the South's largest and most prominent projects since 2006, including those announced by Volkswagen, Nissan, Dow Hemlock, Wacker Chemie and SAIC,” writes Southern Business and Development’s Lee Burlett. “Tennessee is also a Southern leader in recruiting renewable energy projects, specifically solar related deals.”