The moves were expected to boost home sales and other types of development that could keep the economy moving in the right direction, and some skeptics have wondered aloud why the Fed didn't drop rates a little sooner to stimulate the economy. Others have pointed to President George W. Bush's tax cut proposal as a means of prolonging the nation's fiscal health. Bush hopes to put more money in the hands of workers through reductions in the federal income tax, but reactions have been mixed as to how much money the government can afford to turn over and how big an impact the cuts will make. Whether or not the moves in Washington have any significant impact locally remains to be seen, but there has already been plenty of commercial activity here in recent months, in the way of growth and cutbacks. The building's anchor tenant, Cenetec, is slated to move in this month.
Retail development is still strong, despite national drops in consumer confidence.
On the west side of the city, two multi-use complexes are being built and could partially open this spring. Starbucks Coffee, Stone Cold Creamery and Quizno's are expected to open in the coming weeks. Located just west of the NW 43rd Street intersection, the first phase of work will be done this summer and the project should be complete sometime in 2002. Developers have also warmed to the roadside expanse of U.S. 441 in Alachua for some of the area's more significant projects. Growth will continue this year at Regeneration Technologies Inc., a company that processes human bone tissue for use in bone and ligament repair.