Yesterday’s post highlighted some very promising jobs numbers in Indiana. It’s no coincidence that others are recognizing the state’s continually improving business climate.

The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council released its Small Business Tax Index 2014, rating states on 21 measures. Indiana placed 11th. And with personal income tax rates (positively impacting capital gains and dividends) and corporate income taxes decreasing further, the ranking just might improve.

Even more promising, the American Legislative Exchange Council unveiled its annual Rich States, Poor States report. Fifteen state policy variables are used to forecast economic outlook. The theory: states that spend less and tax less (particularly on productive activities such as working or investing) experience higher growth rates than states that spend and tax more. Indiana ranks third (14th in 2013 and 24th a year earlier), behind Utah and South Dakota.

We’ll take the good news, but won’t rest on any laurels or allow others to do the same. There are still too many challenges and too many goals to be reached in our Indiana Vision 2025 plan. But it’s nice to be moving in the right direction.