They need ultra-fast telephone and Internet capability, which Bell Atlantic is providing. And they need nurturing. They need to be with their own, in a climate where they can grow. Forty years ago, a similar community of young entrepreneurs made Route 128 into America's first high tech beltway. The Footwear to Software Task Force bets it is Haverhill's turn, at last.
Information technology is the hottest industry in America.
Internet use is doubling every 100 days. Haverhill has a lot of competition for software firms, which are clean and employ professionals at good pay. Mr. Michitson says the task force is giving itself a year to attract 10 new firms to the cyber district. It already got its first one, Universal Data Stream of North Andover, a three-person network systems integrator. Mr. Michitson contends that old shoe district already is a cyber center to some extent.