Conducted by Development Counsellors International every three years, the "Winning Strategies in Economic Development Marketing: A View from Corporate America" survey has tracked trends in economic development since its inception in 1996. For the first time, the survey also includes findings about how the current political climate affects business perceptions.

"The Winning Strategies survey provides insights into the minds of key decision makers and how they explore corporate relocation and expansion decisions," said DCI President Andrew T. Levine. "Understanding how the political climate can affect business decisions is crucial for communities, as the competition for business expansions and talent intensifies."

Key findings from the 2017 "Winning Strategies" survey, which is based on the aggregate responses of 331 corporate executives with site selection responsibilities, include:

• Texas, which has consistently held the No. 1 ranking since 1999, was again a favorite among survey respondents, with 42 percent naming the state as having one of the most favorable business climates. Florida (22 percent of executives surveyed), Georgia (20 percent), South Carolina (16 percent) and North Carolina (15 percent) rounded out the top five states selected by key decision makers.

• When asked which international countries they were most likely to explore for investment, 31 percent of U.S. executives named China as their top choice, followed by the United Kingdom (22 percent) and Canada (21 percent). Germany and Mexico ranked fourth and fifth, respectively.

• 50.3 percent of executives report that their company will make a location decision (move, expansion or consolidation) in the next 24 months. This is a 6 percent increase from 2014 results.

• 54 percent of the survey audience report that they plan to outsource a portion of the site selection process during their next site selection search, a significant increase from 2014 (40 percent).