Corridor Business Journal: Iowa recently placed seventh in FitSmallBusiness.com’s ranking of the best U.S. states to start a business. The New York City-based online research firm, which examined seven different metrics, placed the Hawkeye State sixth for quality of life, seventh for cost of starting a business, and ninth for the labor market, making the state “a well-rounded choice for someone starting a business.” The report noted that Iowa offers the most affordable office space in the country, with small business owners paying only $17 per square foot annually for commercial office space. Report authors noted the state’s seventh-place overall finish demonstrated “an impressive improvement over last year’s ranking,” calling it “one of a handful states located in the Midwest or the Plains .. .that embody key ingredients for creating and maintaining a successful business.”