TIP Strategies: Insights • News & Events • Consulting • Advisory

Mountain bike outdoor recreation innovation image by Kyle Bolen Photo

Outdoor Recreation as a Catalyst for Place-Based Innovation

6.27.2025by Elizabeth Scott

Outdoor recreation is fueling a new wave of entrepreneurship and place-based economic growth. TIP’s recent work in Colorado and Michigan shows how aligning natural assets with higher education, startup support, and industry innovation can build resilient local economies. Communities that treat outdoor recreation as an economic engine—not just tourism—are better positioned to compete for business, talent, and investment.

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Aligning Local Strengths with Regional Innovation

6.24.2025by Luke Shuffield

Smaller communities near major metros can build thriving tech economies by aligning local assets with regional industry strengths. TIP’s work in Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Sahuarita, Arizona, illustrates how targeted niche development—in this case, fintech and photonics—can position these communities for sustainable long-term growth.

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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 for innovation in a rapidly changing world.

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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.

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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 area and considers future trends.

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Diverse students on stairs at university campus chatting.

How International Students Strengthen the Workforce

3.25.2025by Ajay Kasturirangan

International students help strengthen economies through their contributions to local industries, culture, and workforce. The US benefits from the steady influx of global talent, particularly in STEM fields, through the F1 visa program. Cities that align academic programs with industry needs and embrace remote work trends are becoming hubs for retaining skilled graduates, fostering long-term economic growth.

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A technician installing broadband fiber optic on a house

Building a Broadband Workforce Through Regional Collaboration

3.23.2025by Alexis Angelo

Many remote and rural communities struggle to build broadband infrastructure due to their limited resources and capacity. TIP’s examination of the broadband workforce in 32 high-needs counties on behalf of the Texas Broadband Development Office highlights gaps in this critical workforce and the value of a regional approach in bridging this digital divide.

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Climate Jobs - Workers repairing a wind turbine

Bridging the Climate Workforce Gap

3.10.2025by Mishka Parkins

Expanding green industries, rising energy demands, and climate challenges have made growing the climate workforce an economic priority. While policy shifts create uncertainty, employer demand continues to outstrip the supply of skilled workers. Programs like those in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Detroit are demonstrating how targeted training, strong partnerships, and community-driven initiatives can build a skilled workforce while expanding economic opportunity and resilience.

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Workforce Strategies to Drive Mobility and Infrastructure Talent Growth

1.17.2025by Jess Myers

The mobility and infrastructure (M+I) industries will face massive workforce shortages nationwide due to large, federally funded capital projects. From transit apprenticeships to safe workplace practices, industry-specific initiatives can act as scaffolding while the foundation of workforce training is built. Efforts to expand the M+I talent pipeline in California’s Santa Clara Valley; Denver, Colorado; and Portland, Oregon are examples.

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Implementation concept of a hand moving wooden cylinders through a flow chart.

Beyond the Blueprint: Real World Strategies for Implementation

12.27.2024by Jenn Todd-Goynes, CNU-A

Strategic planning is only the first step; successful implementation requires a clear vision, effective communication, and actionable steps. This blog post highlights how TIP has supported clients like the City of Dallas, Greater Fort Wayne Inc., and the Greater Baltimore Committee in moving from strategy to impact, offering insights on bridging planning with execution to drive meaningful results.

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