States don't grow economies, cities grow economy. 
Cities that invest in their residents will encourage economic diversity and less reliance on government spending. 
Look at what state legislatures in the sw and se are doing to kill econimic diversity by passing draconian social laws that discriminate against classes of tax paying citizens. Private sector businesses are threatening to pull out and/or reduce investment. Government money and religious conservatism stifles creativity and economic diversity. Less government is better for the economy.