he Mountain West continues to attract young, educated professionals. Cities such as Denver and Salt Lake City have been a haven for high-tech firms and talent. But with the recent technology industry slump, the western mountain states have suffered. The task at hand now is to find viable businesses to fill vacant space in places such as Boulder, Denver and Salt Lake City. According to Grubb & Ellis' Denver office, "Net absorption closed out the year at an outstanding negative 2.5 million square feet (232,250-sq.-m.), which can be mostly attributed to major layoffs."
        Development officials in Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Nevada and Idaho are working on new programs to attract new industries. State legislatures are searching for new ways to roll out the welcome mat for new investment with state and local sponsored tax incentives, targeting new industries with academic assistance and leveraging international attention on the region from the recent Winter Olympics in Utah.

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