Maryland is on the move, propelling 19 spots on CNBC’s 2021 list of “America’s Top States for Business.'' This dramatic shift, putting Maryland as the No. 12 best state for business, makes the state the most improved in this year’s ranking.

What drove such a significant change? It’s the state’s forward-thinking approach to infrastructure, specifically a modern power grid and broadband connectivity, CNBC’s Scott Cohn reports. The list places Maryland in the No. 8 spot for infrastructure.

Thanks to years-long effort to modernize its power grid, Maryland has one of the best-performing grids in the nation, Cohn reports, citing Department of Energy data. And more improvements are on the way. Maryland’s electric utilities are joining forces to further modernize the state’s power grid, using automation to make the grid even more reliable and efficient.

When it comes to broadband, Marylanders can connect to the internet at blazing speeds, with broadband access available to more than 95% of the population. BroadbandNow ranks the state third for connectivity. Maryland will continue to prioritize connectivity, as evidenced through efforts like the Digital Connectivity Act of 2021, which established a state broadband office to ensure all residentshave access to broadband service within five years.

Maryland saw the greatest improvement in infrastructure, but it also improved in the majority of other categories of competitiveness, including economy (up 15 spots to No. 20) and technology and innovation, where the state holds an impressive No. 2 ranking (up from No. 5 in 2020).

‘Maryland is open for business’ hasn’t just been our slogan—we have changed the entire mission of state government to be unabashedly pro-jobs, and delivered one of the biggest economic turnarounds in America.https://t.co/eVEEdPlfnq

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 13, 2021

See more coverage from CNBC’s Top States for Business List:

• 2021′s most-improved state for business is Maryland. New infrastructure thinking is the reason.
• Maryland profile
• Full list