Strategy Archives • TIP Strategies

Ziplining-Fall-Stowe-Vermont-Outdoor-Recreation

Balancing Destination Development with Stewardship

9.24.2025by Elizabeth Scott

Outdoor recreation is a cornerstone of community competitiveness, but true destination development requires thoughtful stewardship. Lessons from Park City, Utah; Stowe, Vermont; and West Virginia show that by protecting natural assets, reinvesting in infrastructure, and ensuring residents and visitors enjoy the benefits of outdoor recreation growth, communities can build resilient, long-term economies.

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State of Placemaking

9.19.2025by Jeff Marcell

For 30 years, TIP has led the field in thinking holistically about growth, emphasizing how place-based factors like quality of life, housing, and community connection drive economic success. Senior partner Jeff Marcell explores how this approach to placemaking helps communities attract talent, foster innovation, and build the social fabric that sustains long-term prosperity.

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Klyde Warren Park built over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway in Dallas

How Long-Term Planning Powers Major Urban Redevelopment Projects

8.7.2025by John Karras

Large-scale redevelopment projects like deck parks can unlock long-term economic value—but only with vision, patience, and strategic alignment. Drawing on examples across Texas and the US, VP John Karras shares lessons for practitioners navigating complex efforts involving infrastructure, placemaking, and public-private partnerships, with an emphasis on how communities can prepare for transformational change over decades, not years.

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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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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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A view of the Baltimore city skyline from the harbor with boats and docks in the water

Equity-Driven Implementation: Insights from the Baltimore Region

12.12.2024by Mishka Parkins

Ensuring equity and inclusion during implementation is as vital as integrating them into planning. The Greater Baltimore Committee’s All In 2035 plan, prepared with guidance from TIP Strategies, highlights practices for maintaining a focus on inclusivity, including engaging diverse stakeholders, establishing measurable goals, and fostering transparency and accountability. The organization’s approach offers a model for creating long-term, equitable growth.

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