b'Economic OutlookThe Economic Recovery Outlook for Where You Live: Four Things to Know By Brian Beaulieu, CEOThe shape of the recovery in your business is first and foremost a function of the decisions that you make. Ultimately, it is not up to the federal government, state/municipal governments, or COVID-19. However, these three influences must be considered to varying degrees based on the nature of your business. We are going to take a look at some state influences. Perhaps they wont impact your business directly, but they could have a bearing on your finances and the economic well-being of your community.1. The GDP hit was not equally felt The lightest blue are the more severely impacted states, based on Bureau of Economic Analysis data. NewJersey is particularly notable as a state in trouble given the drop in GDP and a significant drain of its rainy day funds. Medium- to light-blue-colored areas that are heavily dependent on tourism are not a healthy combina-tion heading through 2023. The states best suited for a rebound are the darker-colored states that are more dependent on manufacturing. The dark-est-colored states (less severely impacted) are (from left to right) some of the better prospects for recovery: WashingtonUtahColoradoArizonaNew MexicoNorth DakotaArkansasGeorgiaDelaware 2. Some states are better positioned to ride through the economic storm A hit to revenues for the states could also impact credit ratings and impair longer-term prospects in addition to creating pressure on cutting services and raising taxes in the near term based on debt obligations and how well those obligations are funded. What we are looking at via the list below are states that are the least heavily in debt as a percentage of GDP (in order from least indebted to more indebted): WyomingIdaho OklahomaNorth Carolina Delaware 3. It is good to have low debt levels, but having well-funded debt also matters. The next list presents the five states with the most complete funding: WisconsinSouth DakotaTennesseeIdaho CONTINUED ON PAGE 12 North Carolina Page 10CONSTRUCTION JOURNAL'