Colorado Falls to No. 25 in CNBC Business Rankings as Costs and Regulation Bite
Updated
Updated · The Sum and Substance · Jul 15
Colorado Falls to No. 25 in CNBC Business Rankings as Costs and Regulation Bite
3 articles · Updated · The Sum and Substance · Jul 15
Summary
Colorado dropped 14 places to No. 25 in CNBC’s Top States for Business, its lowest ranking in the list’s 20-year history after sitting in the top 10 from 2007 to 2022.
CNBC’s scoring hit the state on business costs, living costs and infrastructure: Colorado ranked 38th for cost of doing business, 49th for cost of living and 32nd for infrastructure.
Permitting delays and weak transport metrics fed that slide, with air-quality permits averaging 837 days in fiscal 2025-26 and the Reason Foundation ranking Colorado highways 43rd.
The economy score also worsened to 28th from 21st as job growth fell below the national average, while a Colorado Chamber report said the state has lost a net 34 corporate headquarters since 2022.
Bright spots remained in technology and innovation, where Colorado rose to 6th from 9th, and workforce quality at 10th, but business groups say the broader trend shows competitiveness is eroding.