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1997 Economic Report Card Available

January 09, 1998
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The Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED) has released its 1997 Development Report Card for the States. The annual report card assesses the strengths and weaknesses of each state's economy and its potential for future growth. Its rankings are watched closely by state development officials.

The report examines approximately 60 factors important to a state's economic health and development and grades each state on three indexes. The indices measure (1) economic performance -- how well the state's economy is performing; (2) business vitality -- how vital the businesses in the state are; and (3) development capacity -- the state's ability to support future growth or recover from economic adversity. In addition, the states are ranked, but not graded, on their tax and fiscal systems.

The report grades states in several subcategories within the larger indexes. The Technology Resources subindex includes the following measures:

  • Ph.D. scientists and engineers in the workforce
  • Science and engineering graduate students
  • Patents issued
  • Federal research and development
  • University research and development
  • Small Business Innovation Research grants

Listed below are the states' Technology Resources rankings and grades.

State Rank Grade State Rank Grade MA 1 A MT 26 C CO 2 A AL 27 C NM 3 A WI 27 C MD 4 A HI 29 C CT 5 A GA 30 C RI 6 A IA 31 C UT 6 A ND 32 C DE 8 A WY 33 C CA 9 A MO 34 C NY 10 A TN 35 D VA 11 B AK 36 D VT 12 B IN 37 D PA 13 B NE 38 D NH 14 B KS 39 D NJ 14 B NV 40 D OR 16 B FL 41 D AZ 17 B OK 42 D WA 18 B LA 43 D MI 19 B ME 44 D OH 20 B SC 45 D TX 21 C MS 46 F ID 22 C WV 47 F IL 23 C SD 48 F MN 23 C KY 49 F NC 25 C AR 50 F


Copies of the report are available for $75 each from the Corporation for Enterprise Development, 202/408-9788.