Benchmarking & best practices Archives • TIP Strategies

Preserving the Social Fabric of Destination Towns Through Affordable Housing

3.26.2026by Alexis Angelo

For many destination towns, the phrase “we live where you vacation” is a point of pride that masks an economic threat. When residents and essential workers are priced out by rising housing costs, a community risks losing the very identity that draws visitors in. Strategies from Cape Cod demonstrate how creative land use and regional collaboration can preserve local social fabric.

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State of Implementation

12.16.2025by Tracye McDaniel

Across 30 years of engagements, TIP has learned that strategy only matters when it drives visible movement. President Tracye McDaniel examines how communities translate plans into visible progress through strong governance, real-time measurement, and adaptive tools. Her insights underscore why implementation now distinguishes regions that merely prepare for the future from those actively building it.

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Field Notes: Advancing Chester County’s Vision

12.9.2025by Alex Cooke

In 2014, Chester County launched VISTA 2025, a 10-year economic development strategy developed with TIP Strategies to guide growth while preserving the county’s character. We recently connected with Mike Grigalonis, President & COO of the Chester County Economic Development Council, to discuss how the plan’s goals have taken shape over the past decade.

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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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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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A Female mentor training a young female intern at office workplace

Quality and Access: The Blueprint for Effective Internships

10.31.2024by Jess Myers

Internships offer students a way to explore potential career paths, develop early professional skills, and contribute to real-world projects. To be most effective for students and employers, two key components must be in place: access and quality. In this blog post, our 2024 summer intern, Jess Myers, examines both concepts and reflects on her experience at TIP.

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Scientist in a lab working with test tubes. A tube with red liquid is being lifted out of the test tube holder.

Building an Innovation Economy: Lessons from Texas and Mississippi

9.30.2024by John Karras

Higher education plays an essential role in strong innovation economies. TIP’s Talent, Innovation, and Place framework encompasses the idea that aligning universities with economic development efforts is central to community success. Recent plans for Texas and Mississippi illustrate how states and regions can build an innovation economy through academic and industry partnerships.

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Leveraging EV Market Momentum to Drive Local Economic Impact

9.17.2024by Luke Shuffield

The increasingly competitive electric vehicles (EVs) market is reshaping the automotive landscape and presenting new opportunities for economic developers. This post examines key strategies for capitalizing on EV growth, including pursuing federal funding, attracting manufacturing investments, and expanding EV charging infrastructure. By focusing on these areas, communities can position themselves to benefit from the accelerating shift toward electrification.

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Supporting Shorter, More Affordable Pathways to Quality Jobs

6.25.2024by Luke Shuffield

Students often feel pressured to pursue four-year degrees despite skyrocketing education costs. However, the value of affordable, shorter educational pathways, such as associate’s degrees and technical certificates, is increasingly evident. Institutions like Texas State Technical College and San Jacinto College demonstrate the benefits of skill-specific training, supported by philanthropic and industry investments, offering promising alternatives to traditional college routes.

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Triptychs: Work-Based Learning Models

6.17.2024by Jess Myers

As technology advances, a skills gap has emerged between students’ education and employers’ needs, threatening future workforce readiness. Work-based learning programs, which integrate real-world experiences and employer insights into education, offer a viable solution. This blog post explores three examples of programs that help students acquire essential skills and better prepare for high-demand jobs, addressing talent shortages in major sectors.

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