For the second year in a row, the University of Utah is No. 1 in the nation when it comes to starting university research-based companies, according to a survey released by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

The newest survey measures the 2010 fiscal year (July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2010) where the U generated 18 startups. MIT followed in second despite spending nearly three times as much on research than Utah.

“Education is key to our economy in more ways than one,” said Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “Not only are we training our future employees, managers and CEOs, our university students and researchers can turn their ideas into viable businesses. It’s a win-win.”

The economic impact from the University of Utah’s startup companies in the 2010 fiscal year resulted in the creation of over 15,000 jobs, $754.5 million in personal income and $76.6 million in tax revenue.

“This achievement is again a testament not only to our world-class researchers and their innovative discoveries, but also to the university’s unique ability to deliver that life-changing technology to the people who need it most,” says A. Lorris Betz, interim president of the University of Utah. “In addition, the companies we produce give our community a much-needed economic boost, create jobs and grow Utah’s reputation as an innovations hub in the nation and world.”

The U launched its first startup in 1970. Since then, it has had more than 200 other research-based startups with 125 of them founded in just the past six years.

Ever since the U created the Technology Venture Development office in 2005, the school has consistently ranked high in the AUTM survey. In the past five years alone, the U has been one of the top two universities for startups, moving a head of MIT for the first time last year.

“Our success is a credit to our exceptional faculty, students and community,” says Jack Brittain, vice president for Technology Venture Development at the University of Utah. “We have a tremendous culture of innovation that makes Utah one of the friendliest places for inventors and entrepreneurs, and everyone in the state benefits from the resulting economic growth. We are also fortunate to have state and university programs that support technology development so we can create companies in Utah.”

The U also ranked higher than the national average in a couple other categories AUTM’s survey, with 287 active technology licenses (ntl. avg. 210), 208 invention disclosures (ntl. avg. 113) and 41 U.S. patents (ntl. avg. 24)

Brigham Young University also made the list with 13 startups along with other top-startup universities like Columbia, Cornell, Johns Hopkins and Purdue—all with more than 10 new companies.

One of the world’s most prestigious financial publications has named Utah the Best State For Business for the second consecutive year. Forbes debuted its ranking with Utah atop the charts this week.

“Utah repeats this year as Forbes Best State for Business and Careers in our sixth annual look at the business climates of the 50 states. No state can match the consistent performance of Utah. It is the only state that ranks among the top 15 states in each of the six main categories we rate the states on.

“Utah highlights include energy costs 31% below the national average and employment growth that has averaged 0.6% the past five years. Compare that to the U.S. as a whole where job growth has averaged negative 0.6% since 2005. Utah’s 5% corporate tax rate is well below western neighbors Arizona, Idaho and New Mexico. Utah ranks sixth in a new Tax Foundation study that looks at the tax burden on business in each state across different industries. As part of the ranking, we included the study, which will be released to the public in the coming months.”

Forbes notes that momentum is building in Utah and rankings, like this one, attract businesses across the spectrum and from around the country.

“Businesses are getting the message on Utah. Procter & Gamble, ITT, Home Depot and Boeing all announced expansions in Utah this year. The Goldman Sachs office in Salt Lake City is its second biggest in the Americas with more 1,000 employees and significant expansion expected over the next four years.

“Technology companies particularly have had Utah on their radar as an affordable alternative to California with overall business costs in Utah 10% below the national average. Adobe Systems, eBay, Electronic Arts and Oracle have all expanded in Utah in recent years.

“Companies are also attracted by Utah’s population growth which is one of the fastest in the country and provides a burgeoning workforce. “Utah has a young, dynamic economy with a vibrant high-tech sector,” says Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody’s Analytics.

“The Utah story is far from over. Job growth is projected to be 2.4% annually through 2015 according to Moody’s, sixth best in the country.”

You can read the full article on Forbes.com.

A new ranking shows Utah is the eight richest state in the nation. That’s according to 24/7 Wall St. which compared median income to poverty rates.

The Beehive State’s median income is just under $60,000 while the poverty rate is the third lowest in the nation at jus 9.1 percent. Utah also has the 23rd highest rate of citizens with health coverage and the 15th lowest unemployment rate in the country.

The report says, “Utah has the third-lowest poverty rate in the United States. While the Salt Lake City metropolitan region, and nearby Ogden and Provo, make up only a small part of the state, a huge percent of the state’s population lives in the area. All three are flourishing with young populations and diverse economies bolstered by technology, health care and several large universities. And because these cities represent most of the state’s population, the state’s median income is high. Davis County, which is part of the Ogden Metropolitan Statistical Area, is home to roughly 10% of the state’s population. It also has a median income of $66,220, the third-highest in the state.”

You can read the entire article here.

Salt Lake City has received more adulation for our business friendly environment, this time from Fortune magazine.

In the feature available in online today and on newsstands next week, Fortune says:

“Move over, Stanford: The University of Utah claim to lead the nation’s universities in creating successful startups–and the Brookings Institution says the city’s workforce is the nation’s most productive. More reasons business like Salt Lake: inexpensive utilities and state property taxes, and corporate taxes that are the ninth-lowest in the U.S.”

Salt Lake City and Austin, Texas were the only two U.S. cities on the list. Vancouver, Canada and San Jose, Costa Rica round out the four cities included from North America. You can see the interactive map by clicking here.

The magazine also features the founder of Omniture, Josh James.