State governments are still willing to pour millions into encouraging high-tech industry, but they’re spending that money somewhat differently from the way they did two years ago. That was the conclusion of the 1988 survey of state technology programs put out by the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development.
For evidence that states are increasingly serious about boosting technology, the survey stall’s acting director Gil Young points to the rising number of states creating an office or board focusing just on technology. Between 1986 and 1988, the survey found that the number of states taking this approach had grown from 30 to 36. Among the states that did not have specific technology offices, seven had established some other kind of program to encourage high-tech industry. Altogether these 44 states spent $560 million on technology-boosting in 1988. New Jer- sey and Texas spent the most ($76 million and $60 million), ...
