Colorado dropped to 25th in CNBC’s latest best-states-for-business ranking, down from third place in 2016 after a yearslong erosion in its standing.
CNBC’s category scores show pressure points in infrastructure and costs: the state ranked 32nd for infrastructure and 38th for cost of doing business.
The report ties the sharper decline to 2018, when Democrats won both legislative chambers, saying taxes, regulation and homelessness have since risen and worsened the business climate.
Since 2022, Colorado has posted a net loss of 34 public company headquarters, including Palantir’s move to Miami, while a Colorado Chamber Foundation study warned the state was deterring expansions and entrepreneurs.
Governor Jared Polis endorsed that warning, but with Polis term-limited, the ranking slide adds to concerns over whether Colorado can restore the pro-growth model that once made it a top-three state.