You are talking State vs. State. You keep comparing Spokane to Utah.
In any event, WA has become increasingly unfriendly to businesses. Meanwhile, Utah has beefed up EDC- Utah, WTC-Utah, and GOED. And it has church members as a work force (who are well educated and hard working, by and large). Herbert has driven huge incentive programs for businesses working to relocate to Utah.
Seriously though. Don't take this subject so personally. Utah has lots of beauty. It just has boring and crappy city parks. That's all anyone has said.