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    cowboy up

    Texas branded a top state for businesses to survive the pandemic

    Natalie Harms, InnovationMap
    Jul 20, 2020 | 9:35 am
    Texas state flag road sign
    The Lone Star State's mix of rural and urban settings — and other factors — has set it up for success as the economy reels from the COVID-19 pandemic.
    Photo by gguy44/Getty Images

    A new study has found that businesses in Texas are in a good position to weather the storm that is the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic challenges.

    The FitSmallBusiness.com ranking factored in various metrics from overall financial health and emergency reserves to even how consumers feel about their state's ability to bounce back. The researchers weighted five metrics: Economic and financial Health (20 percent); least economic stressors (25 percent); emergency reserves and relief (25 percent); COVID-19 rates and health care infrastructure (20 percent); and consumer confidence (10 percent).

    Based on the analysis, Texas ranked as the third best state equipped to survive the economic fallout from COVID-19. Texas ranked No. 1 in the study's emergency reserves and relief category, since the Lone Star State has the second-highest CARES Act endowment at over $10 billion.

    "The state also possesses adequate economic reserves and offers decent compensation for the unemployed. When these factors are combined with a relatively low cost of living and what is considered to be a pro-business environment, Texas just might be 'the case study for economic recovery from the COVID-19 recession,'" the report reads.

    In contrast, New York is ranked at the bottom of the list at No. 50 due to its disproportionate amount of cases and high density in New York City. The top 10 states are as follows:

    • Ohio
    • South Dakota
    • Texas
    • Wyoming
    • New Mexico
    • Arkansas
    • Iowa
    • Utah
    • West Virginia
    • Nebraska

    Midwestern states did particularly well in the report due to their low density and lack of tourism. Texas too shares these elements, as well as boasting a balance between city and rural environments. Even though Texas is the second-most populous state in the United States, it ranks as No. 24 for density. The Lone Star State's economy was factored in as well with it having the second largest economy by GDP in the U.S. Plus, the state's economy represents a variety of industries — like agriculture, aeronautics, and computer technology.

    "So while the state has indeed taken its share of bumps from the current recession, it seems that it has enough resources to weather the storm," according to the report.

    The study, which was published June 22, used data that came from sources such as the U.S. Department of Labor, Moody's Analytics, the U.S. Census, the Tax Foundation, the New York Times, and the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

    ---

    This story originally appeared on InnovationMap.

    trendsrankingsreports
    news/innovation

    Tech on the rise

    Houston's Shipley Do-Nuts launches AI-powered ordering assistant

    InnovationMap Staff
    Nov 24, 2025 | 3:30 pm
    Shipley's doughnuts
    Shipley's Do-Nuts
    undefined

    Popular Houston-born doughnut chain Shipley Donuts has added a first-of-its-kind artificial intelligence-powered assistant to its online ordering platform.

    The new assistant can create personalized order recommendations based on individual or group preferences, according to a news release from the company.

    Unlike standard chatbox features, the new assistant makes custom recommendations based on multiple customer factors, including budgetary habits, individual flavor preferences, and order size.

    "We're not just adding AI for the sake of innovation — we're solving real customer pain points by making ordering more intuitive, personalized and efficient," Kerry Leo, Shipley vice president of technology, said in the release.

    The system also works for larger events, as it can make individual orders and catering recommendations for corporate events and meetings by suggesting quantities and assortments based on group size, event type, and budget.

    According to Shipley, nearly one in four guests have completed orders with the new AI technology since it launched on its website.

    “The integration of the AI ordering assistant into our refreshed website represents a significant leap forward in how restaurant brands can leverage technology to enhance the customer experience,” Leo added in the release.

    ----

    This story originally was published on our sister site, InnovationMap.

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