Slide 1
We design strategies
that support your community’s
vision for the future
Learn More
Slide 2
Planning in Turbulent Times
It’s important for those of us in
leadership to pause and think
beyond recovery.
Learn More
Slide 3
Based in Austin
with offices coast to coast
Slide 4

Our Mission

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

the tip advantage


TIP Strategies has worked for over 25 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.

Our Mission

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

500

Engagements

350

Clients

44

States

5

Countries

PRACTICE AREAS

TIP Practice Area: Strategy

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.

TIP Practice Area: Talent

TALENT

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

TIP Practice Area: Resilency

RESILIENCE

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

TIP Practice Area: Advisory

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.

Learn more about our work

Insights

A flexible circuit held by a gloved hand

Federal Tech Hub Program Presents Opportunity

by Luke Shuffield
Communities across the US stand to benefit from monitoring the progress of the recently announced Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program and formulating applications as the program moves forward. Administered by the EDA, this federal funding initiative focuses on expanding innovation beyond the current handful of successful high-tech centers.
Read More
Capitol building in Washington DC with Cherry blossoms

NAWB Forum 2023: Takeaways & Trends

by Katrina Parkey
In late March, Tom Stellman and Katrina Parkey attended the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) 2023 Forum in Washington, DC. In Katrina’s latest post, she shares some insights gained from her time at NAWB and from her recent talent-focused consulting engagements.
Read More
Thrive Spokane CEDS Cover including an arial photo of the city of Spokane

How Can a CEDS Bring a Community Together?

by Elizabeth Scott
The preparation of a comprehensive economic development strategy (CEDS) requires a community to define its collective vision for future growth and prosperity. The second installment in TIP’s CEDS series highlights the successful and inclusive outreach strategy conducted by Greater Spokane Inc. that drove the vision for their CEDS, THRIVE Spokane.
Read More
Geography of Jobs Visualization Map

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.

View Visualizations
Sign up to receive our newsletter

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.

Subscribe
Testimonials

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
Scroll to Top