NH ranked 14th for small business growth

[M. Brown]

NH ranked 14th for small business growth

Telephone Credit Union

CONCORD (AP) - A small business advocacy group ranked New Hampshire 14th this year for helping foster small business growth.

The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council ranked the 50 states and Washington, D.C., on whether state and local government encourages or impedes small businesses.

New Hampshire scored high for having no personal or capital gains taxes, a low crime rate and a low sales tax. The state earned black marks for having high property taxes and a high corporate income tax.

South Dakota came in first as the friendliest place. Washington, D.C., and California ranked last.

New Hampshire far outpaced other New England states which were in the bottom half of the rankings.