Opportunity Zones (OZs) have been a major focus for economic developers and investors nationwide. While OZ 1.0 showed mixed results, OZ 2.0 offers a permanent, more transparent framework for implementation. Communities that align priorities, build readiness, and coordinate investment now will be best positioned to capture private capital and deliver meaningful economic and community outcomes.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Beyond the Blueprint: Real World Strategies for Implementation Read More
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.
Equity-Driven Implementation: Insights from the Baltimore Region Read More
In a globalized economy, international partnerships are essential for cities to thrive. Fostering connections with universities, businesses, and cultural organizations drives economic growth, innovation, and resilience. By integrating international relationships into cohesive strategies, cities can transform these ties into actionable benefits, ensuring implementation success in today’s dynamic global landscape.
Global Connections, Local Impact: Harnessing International Partnerships Read More
Transparent and well-documented implementation is key to the success of long-term planning efforts. GIS is an especially effective tool for tracking specific, place-based projects, including infrastructure and mobility improvements. Regional organizations and governments in places like Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and Seattle are using GIS maps to enhance accountability and ensure stakeholders can see tangible progress across multiple plans and agencies.
Tracking Active Transportation Improvements with GIS Read More
When it comes to improving a community’s innovation assets, economic development practitioners can do only so much to influence postsecondary science and engineering programs or to increase the presence of venture capital firms. Supporting R&D-focused small businesses through the process of accessing federal SBIR/STTR dollars is a strategy that fits squarely within the realm of business and economic development.
Accessible Innovation Capital: SBIR & STTR Programs Read More
Faced with unprecedented environmental challenges, the integration of climate sustainability into economic development planning has increased in urgency for many practitioners. As part of TIP’s work with the City of San Luis Obispo, California, Mishka Parkins gained a first-hand perspective on how this integration can be accomplished and the opportunities a sustainability focus can create.
Sustainability and Economic Development as Mutually Reinforcing Priorities Read More
