As large companies determine where to invest their development dollars, state governments compete to gain or keep those projects within their borders. As such, each state has some form of an economic development agency (EDA), either within the state government or a nonprofit that works closely in tandem with it. According to a 2016 report by the Urban Institute, EDAs "are tasked with supporting existing businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship, recruiting new businesses, and coordinating the economic development activities" of local government interests. A 2012 white paper from the National Governors Association said that "policies to boost innovation, competitiveness and job creation are top priorities for the nation's governors." But new data would seem to suggest that state actions are rarely worth the expense.
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