Poet Ponders the Digital

Visalia Direct: Virtual Valley September 2, 2010 Deadline October Issue Nurturing the Valley’s Tech Economy   “What can we do to improve, or even create, Tulare County’s tech economy?” When I receive messages after a column is published, they tend to ask technical questions. This summer, I received poignant messages about topics of special interest to me: our schools and our economy. There is no quick and easy way to nurture a high-tech economy. Sadly, there are more examples of failure than success. In the Midwest, states have been trying to transition from manufacturing to technology for the last quarter century. Driving through these states, one finds empty business parks, faltering science-focused charter schools, and cities with uncertain futures. Tax breaks, special incentives, and substantial federal aid have not produced rivals to Silicone Valley or the Route 128 “Tech Corridor” of Massachusetts. However, this summer I visited Texas, where high-tech is expanding...