A veritable power surge of technology is feeding what economists call the new economy. In it, brainpower replaces manpower.
Innovation becomes more important than mass production.
And the information superhighway is the path of choice that links people to places and things. Niel Byce III, right, trains workers on the production of year 2000 products at Bear Archery. The new economy is about speed, quality, flexibility, knowledge and networks. It is about applying that knowledge and new ways of doing business to a wide range of products and services, from agriculture and apparel to business services, retail and software. The Gainesville community, with its highly skilled labor force and strong ties to the University of Florida and Santa Fe Community College, should fit neatly into the fold.