TIP Strategies

05/06/2026

Some of the most meaningful work we do happens when leaders are in the same room, working through complex questions together.

This week, TIP president Tracye McDaniel, managing partner Jon Roberts, and consultant Alexis Angelo helped facilitate a strategic retreat with the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors and Copperas Cove City Council as part of the community's branding and image initiative.

The photo shows Jon and Alexis leading the discussion—a fitting snapshot of the conversations, collaboration, and big-picture thinking that helps move communities forward.

04/06/2026

Thanks to Joseph O’Bell and the Moontower Business podcast for talking with TIP managing partner Jon Roberts about THE COST OF COOL: Austin’s Tech Growth and the People Left Behind.

Episode 189 touches on Jon’s professional journey, the evolution of the book, and lessons from working with communities across the country—many of which first sought out our team because of Austin’s reputation for growth, innovation, and talent development. Along the way, Jon reflects on the city's transformation and why understanding both the successes and consequences of growth matters for communities planning their futures.

Listen on Spotify: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/joseph-obell/episodes/Episode-189-Jon-Roberts-e3k9rqh/a-acmm2qq

Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-189-jon-roberts/id1507993317?i=1000770996188

Learn more about THE COST OF COOL: https://tipstrategies.com/the-cost-of-cool/

01/06/2026

In May, THE COST OF COOL author and TIP managing partner Jon Roberts joined fellow authors Matt Evans and Joe Battaglia for a statewide Spectrum News segment celebrating Texas Writers Month.

The conversation touched on each author's work and the experience of bringing a book from idea to printed page. For Jon, it was also an opportunity to introduce THE COST OF COOL and the questions at the heart of the book to a broader audience. We're grateful to Spectrum News for spotlighting Texas authors and to everyone who has supported the book since its release.

Watch the segment here: https://youtu.be/utZlhUcAK8E

19/05/2026

A new Forward Times feature on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 explores the opportunities and challenges of rapid economic growth. In conversation with authors Jon Roberts and Tracye McDaniel, Cultural Writer DeVaughn Douglas connects Austin's story to broader questions playing out in cities like Houston.

What does it mean for a city to succeed, and who gets to stay as it changes?

Read the full piece here: https://www.forwardtimes.com/a_and_c/the-cost-of-cool-what-austin-s-growth-can-teach-houston-about-its-future/article_3a8af54d-6c3c-4539-bb2c-027d11f8f7a4.html

Austin became a tech hub, East Austin got displaced, and Houston is already watching the same pattern take shape in its own neighborhoods.

"The Cost of Cool: Austin's Tech Growth and the People Left Behind" started as one writer's story about how a city became desirable — and became something far more necessary when a single question stopped him cold:

"What about East Austin?" Authors Jon Roberts and Tracye McDaniel sat down with Forward Times Cultural Writer DeVaughn Douglas to talk about what they found, what they missed at first, and why the lessons of Austin's growth apply directly to Fifth Ward, Third Ward and Sunnyside right now.

"Growth is not neutral. There's going to be winners and losers. The key for cities is to ask the question — how do we make sure people still can live in their homes?" — Tracye McDaniel

Read the full feature by DeVaughn Douglas, Forward Times Cultural Writer, using the link here: https://bit.ly/4u7RFwa

🗣️Forward Fam — what neighborhood in Houston do you think is most at risk of losing its soul to rapid development?

18/05/2026

How has Austin’s rapid growth reshaped the city, and what can other communities learn from its evolution?

Join The Austin Forum on Technology & Society on June 18 for a virtual discussion of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 and 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯—two books exploring the forces that transformed Austin from a quirky college town into a global tech hub.

TIP managing partner and 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭 author Jon Roberts will join the conversation to discuss the opportunities, tradeoffs, and long-term questions that come with innovation-driven growth: housing affordability, displacement, infrastructure, culture, and the future of place-based economic development.

📍 Virtual via Google Meet
📆 Thursday, June 18, 2026
⌚ 7:15 p.m.–8:30 p.m. CDT
🎟️ Free to attend, but space is limited
Register here: https://lnkd.in/gezbssmV

Whether you’re interested in economic development, urban planning, technology, or Austin’s evolving identity, this should be a thoughtful and timely conversation.

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08/05/2026

What does it take to carry a community’s vision forward when the future itself is uncertain?

As Economic Development Week concludes, we turn to the final chapter of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 and a forward-looking perspective from TIP managing partner Jon Roberts.

In "The Future of Austin," Jon revisits a central theme from the start of the book: vision. But here, the question is not how Austin became Austin—it’s what comes next. The challenge for our communities and our leaders is deciding what kind of future is worth pursuing.

Jon leaves readers with the insight that long-term economic vitality depends on how well communities navigate three forces: environmental resilience, social equity, and technological transformation. These are not abstract ideas; they are the conditions shaping competitiveness and quality of place in real time.

As we wrap a weeklong celebration of IEDC's 100 Years of Impact, the final chapter serves as both a reflection and a call to action. The future isn’t mapped out, but the choices communities make today will determine what takes shape next.

📘Pick up a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥:
• Texas A&M University Press: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/
• BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/9781648433832
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648433839

07/05/2026

When growth accelerates, can planning frameworks evolve fast enough to guide it?

Today’s Economic Development Week feature turns to Chapter Eight of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥. Contributor Jennifer Todd-Goynes draws on her experience as a City of Austin planner to unpack a central tension in high-growth communities: even the most ambitious plans can struggle to keep up with the realities of rapid change.

Austin’s story is not a lack of vision. It's a case study in how difficult implementation can be. From comprehensive efforts like Imagine Austin to the unraveling of CodeNEXT, the city’s planning history reflects competing priorities around growth, affordability, equity, mobility, and preservation. The result is a built environment—and a community conversation—still catching up to its own ambitions.

The takeaway? Plans are only as strong as the systems, alignment, and trust that carry them forward. Without that, even well-intended strategies can stall, fragment, or fall short of their goals.

As we reflect on the evolution of the profession, this chapter is a reminder that shaping the future isn’t just about setting direction. It is about sustaining the capacity to follow through.

📘Pick up a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥:
•Texas A&M University Press: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/
• BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/9781648433832
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648433839

06/05/2026

Who benefits from tech-fueled growth, and who gets left out?

In Chapter 6 of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥, TIP president Tracye McDaniel confronts a hard truth behind Austin’s rise: that rapid, innovation-driven growth can—and often does—coexist with deepening inequities. In Austin’s case, decades of tech expansion coincided with the displacement of long-standing Black communities, widening wealth gaps, and unequal access to economic opportunity.

At the same time, the story is not one-dimensional. There are bright spots, local leadership, and ongoing efforts to address past inequities and expand access to economic participation.

During Economic Development Week, conversations like this are essential. Growth alone is not the goal. Who participates—and who benefits—must be part of the strategy from the start.

📘Pick up a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥:
•Texas A&M University Press: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/
• BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/9781648433832
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648433839

05/05/2026

What does it take to build a self-sustaining entrepreneurial ecosystem?

As part of IEDC's Economic Development Week, we’re continuing our look at 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 with Chapter 5 by Elsie Echeverri-Carroll and Evan Johnston.

Their analysis makes clear that Austin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem didn’t emerge overnight, and it wasn’t driven by any single decision. Sustained tech growth—encouraged by long-term, coordinated investments, relationships with other tech hubs, a deep and growing talent base, and strong research institutions—fostered several cohorts of local entrepreneurs, who in turn reinvested their knowledge, expertise, and financial resources into the local entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Just as important, they show how success builds on itself. Early efforts to attract major firms seeded the tech economy, which fostered conditions more suitable to startup growth as agglomeration effects reinforced Austin’s position over time.

For communities looking to strengthen their own ecosystems, the takeaway is practical: focus less on short-term wins and more on strategic partnerships and the systems—talent, connectivity, and institutions—that sustain growth over the long term.

📘Pick up a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥:
• Texas A&M University Press: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/
• BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/9781648433832
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648433839

04/05/2026

IEDC's annual Economic Development Week is an opportunity to take stock of how communities grow and the ideas that shape those economic outcomes over time.

This year, we’re reflecting on 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 (Texas A&M University Press) by TIP managing partner Jon Roberts, with contributions from Tracye McDaniel, Elsie Echeverri-Carroll, Evan Johnston, and Jennifer Todd-Goynes. The book explores the promise and the tradeoffs of rapid, innovation-driven growth—questions that are central to the next chapter of economic development.

Each day, we'll highlight a chapter as part of the broader conversation around building communities that are both competitive and inclusive.

We begin with one of the book's foundational ideas: growth doesn’t happen by accident; it follows vision. In the opening chapter, Jon examines how Austin’s trajectory was shaped by a deeply held and widely shared sense of identity—one rooted in openness, experimentation, and a willingness to be different. When that kind of vision resonates, it becomes more than a tagline. It becomes a driver of long-term economic momentum.

It’s a reminder that the most effective strategies don’t just respond to market forces. They reflect who a community is and what it aspires to be.

📘Pick up a copy of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘰𝘭: 𝘈𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯’𝘴 𝘛𝘦𝘤𝘩 𝘎𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥:
• Texas A&M University Press: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/
• BookPeople: https://bookpeople.com/book/9781648433832
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1648433839