SMITH COUNTY - We've worked all over the United States. Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, Iowa, and here and we love Texas that's why we're here.

Jerry Alexander is a business owner in Lindale. The Lindale Pizza Inn, for example is one of his many businesses and as an owner, the answer to the question why Texas is a simple one.

"Texas has a resilient economy. Texas seems to thrive when other states don't and Texas is steady. We have a great workforce here we have good people here, great education so it's a good place to be for any business."

Just up the street at the Lindale Economic Development Corporation, John Clary tends to agree.

"Texas has a very strong infrastructure. We have great health care and energy sector of business."

Perhaps just as impressive is that Texas has never dropped below second place since the study began in 2007. Meanwhile, at a local restaurant in Tyler, business owner Robert Owens is taking his time speaking with customers. While owens owns three restaurants he's all too familiar with what it takes to make a business successful.

"Texas business is good compared to the rest of the nation but, I still think it's scary times as far as opening new businesses and trying to get something started. You're going to have to work very hard at it to sustain it and you're going to have to earn it."