TIP Strategies: Economic Development, Strategic & Workforce Planning

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Future-Ready Starts with Skills

Prioritizing skills training drives competitiveness
and expands opportunity.

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Implementation Requires Planning

Combining a clear vision with action drives meaningful results

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Universities Spur Innovation

Optimizing the catalytic potential of institutional anchors

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Placemaking Builds Connections

Supporting innovation and creating inclusive
spaces through intentional placemaking

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The TIP Advantage

TIP Strategies has worked for 30 years to develop innovative strategies, programs, and outreach campaigns. Our Theory Into Practice planning model combines rigorous data analysis with the latest thinking in economic development, workforce training, and community-based principles. We pride ourselves on our ability to think creatively, and we customize each engagement, from initial outreach to final implementation.

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Committee

Our Mission

To engage and inspire community leaders to help the people they serve thrive economically, financially, and socially.

600

Engagements

425

Clients

States

Countries

PRACTICE AREAS

STRATEGY

For more than 25 years, TIP has helped our clients gain the insights and tools to support sound decision-making and create healthy, vibrant economies.

TALENT

TIP’s talent practice helps communities build the skilled labor pool essential to economic growth and prosperity, while creating economic opportunity for residents.

RESILIENCE

We have a long history of helping clients build the agile organizations and flexible systems required to handle disruptions and support vulnerable populations.

ADVISORY

Our team’s decades of experience, proven planning model, and suite of analytical tools can be tailored to help our clients address challenges and leverage opportunities.

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Insights

Engineers working on a robotic arm - Innovation

State of Innovation

6.17.2025by Jon Roberts

Over the last three decades, TIP has challenged conventional thinking about innovation. From our early work in Racine, Wisconsin, to current strategies for anticipating disruption, our approach has sought to align community assets with emerging trends. Managing partner Jon Roberts reflects on how economic development organizations can build lasting capacity…

AI Agents in Economic Development

6.16.2025by Ajay Kasturirangan

Economic development teams often face the challenge of implementing strategic plans with limited capacity. As a practical innovation, AI agents represent a promising shift in meeting that challenge. They represent a novel approach to how work gets done through a clear and phased approach.

a group of people waiting for a job interview. and interview is taking place in a glass walled office in the background.

State of Workforce

3.31.2025by Tom Stellman

TIP has spent 30 years at the intersection of economic and workforce development. Our early adoption of a holistic approach that acknowledged the important role of talent in economic vitality anticipated a shift in the profession. TIP CEO and founder Tom Stellman looks back at company milestones in this practice…

Geography Of Jobs

Tight labor markets motivate employers. Slack labor markets concern workforce development agencies and policymakers. Regardless of where we are in the business cycle, talent development is always a concern. TIP has a long track record and depth of expertise in successful workforce planning, particularly in the alignment of goals across multiple stakeholders.

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Theory Into Practice Newsletter

TIP strives to provide our subscribers with engaging, inspiring content related to TIP’s work and the topics affecting economic development professionals now and in the future.

Testimonials

“I want to thank you for a job well done. You guys did great and thorough work and I appreciate the patience in working with a large group to build consensus through the end of the report.”

David Cooke, City ManagerCity of Fort Worth, Texas

“This goes way beyond just creating jobs…. This is about bringing leaders and communities together to be more intentional about economic growth and collaboration.”

Peter Zaehringer, Vice President (former)Greater Green Bay Chamber (WI)

“[TIP] worked collaboratively with our CEOs and stakeholders throughout Delaware to ensure that the end product – the Delaware Growth Agenda — was not only data-driven and substantive, but politically sensitive and respectful to the varied interests in our state. The result was a plan that was on time, on budget and on point.”

Bob Perkins, Executive DirectorDelaware Business Roundtable

“We’ve very much enjoyed working with [TIP] throughout this entire process. From the discovery work to site visits to this week’s presentation, you’ve been every bit as good as advertised.”

Brian Ritter, CEcD, President/CEOBismarck-Mandan Development Association

“Jon Roberts and [TIP] worked diligently for our city. Their work was comprehensive and very instrumental for the future of our city. TIP helped us put our plan in writing and set us on a course to achieve our goals.”

M. Kevin Strength, MayorCity of Waxahachie, Texas

“From the outset, TIP delivered on the promise of their proposal and their interview. They helped us understand national trends and how they could impact our efforts… Most importantly, they exhibited a skillful balance of moving us in the right direction without attempting to ‘tell us what was good for us.'”

David N. Sciocchetti, Project Lead, VISTA 2025 ProjectChester County Economic Development Council (PA)

“Not only did [TIP] meet our expectations during the project period, we continue to call upon them as we move through implementation…. Our experience with them has set a standard we hope can be met by other consulting firms.”

John Lawler, Chairman (former)Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership (NY)

“Both the document and the process that you guided us through will serve us well for years to come and provide much needed vitality to our local economy.”

Jim Rives, PresidentMaricopa Economic Development Alliance

“TIP works to stay on the cutting edge of economic development nationally, and we rely on them for their insights and their diligence to get things right.”

Gordy Kacala, Executive Director (former)Racine County Economic Development Corporation

“THANK YOU!!! I have never worked with a consulting firm that was more knowledgeable and professional as the TIP Team. I look forward to keeping you all apprised of the progress we make on EDGE initiatives!!”

Lacey Bordelon, VP & COOJefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (LA)

“Thank you both for the tremendous effort in completing a plan that will help us maximize our Parish’s potential for years to come. The final product fulfills the expectations that we had entering into this process. It has been fun and comprehensive and it has been a joy to work with a team that is intellectually stimulating providing the guidance.”

Jerry Bologna, President & CEOJefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (LA)

“We are very impressed by [TIP]. They have brought a high degree of expertise, experience and creativity to our economic development action plan, and that benefits everyone in our community.”

John Urbahns, President and CEOGreater Fort Wayne Inc.

“TIP Strategies brought a national perspective and a depth of experience to the EDDI Disaster Recovery Initiative that helped bring the plan together.”

Deb Smith, Regional Economic PlannerClearwater Economic Development Association