TIP Strategies: Economic Development, Strategic & Workforce Planning

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Implementation Drives Progress

Aligning strategy and action to deliver measurable, lasting results

The TIP Advantage

TIP Strategies has worked for over 30 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.

Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning

Texas Higher Education Coordinating Committee

Our Mission

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

600

Engagements

425

Clients

States

Countries

PRACTICE AREAS

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.

TALENT

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

RESILIENCE

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

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

Laying the Groundwork for Opportunity Zones 2.0

12.29.2025by Jess Myers

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…

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…

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…

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.

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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.

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