Georgia is ranked the number one state for business for the fourth straight year.

The ranking comes from Site Selection Magazine, a leading economic development trade publication.

Governor Nathan Deal says, "For a remarkable fourth time in a row, Georgia has once again been named the top state in the nation in which to do business, highlighting the vitality of our state economy and the businesses-friendly environment that continues to help companies grow."

The governor credits collaboration at the state and local level for creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in Georgia.  Since 2011, more than 575,000 private sector jobs have been created.

Deal says, "In the last four years, many small businesses have expanded in Georgia and numerous international companies have established operations here."

He says the state leads the way in providing companies with a low tax burden.

Site Selection releases its rankings each November.  Georgia has been among the top 10 throughout the last decade.

Editor-in-chief Mark Arend says, "Georgia's fourth consecutive top state business climate ranking is based on where corporate expansion projects are occurring and where investors say they want to commit their capital for the long term."

Arend says the state's fiscal soundness, predictable economic and regulatory climate, workforce and transportation infrastructure are the main reasons for keeping Georgia in the top spot.