TIP Strategies

07/08/2026

We’re looking forward to being a part of the Texas Basic Economic Development Course (BEDC) in Southlake, August 11-14. TIP's Tom Stellman and John Karras will be discussing how communities can use data to tell their story and the latest trends in economic development. A partnership between the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) and the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service - TEEX, BEDC plays an important role in preparing the next generation of economic development professionals and supporting those pursuing CEcD certification. If you’ll be there as well, we’d welcome the chance to catch up — please say hello!

Learn more about the course: https://texasedc.org/programs/basic-economic-development-courses

Registration for November's course in San Antonio opens soon!

06/08/2026

Thank you to the Grand Central Texas partners and Texas A&M University–Central Texas for bringing regional leaders together for yesterday's Economic Development Summit. We appreciated the opportunity for TIP CEO Tom Stellman to help open the event and share the trends shaping communities across Central Texas and beyond.

06/08/2026

Thank you to the Grand Central Texas partners for inviting TIP CEO Tom Stellman to help kickoff yesterday's Economic Development Summit at Texas A&M University–Central Texas. It was exciting to see the collaboration and momentum driving the region forward!

03/08/2026

Thanks again to John L. Hanson, Jr. and In Black America for featuring Tracye McDaniel in the conclusion of this thoughtful two-part conversation.

In Part 2, Tracye reflects on how her perspective has evolved during more than three decades in economic development and how that journey shaped her contribution to THE COST OF COOL. Drawing on East Austin as a case study, she discusses why practitioners must ask the hard questions from the outset: Who benefits from growth? Who could be left behind? And what kind of community will today's decisions create 50 years from now?

As Tracye shares, asking those questions early leads to stronger investments, more connected business communities, and wider participation in long-term economic growth.

🎧 Listen to Part 2 here: https://kutkutx.studio/in-black-america/tracye-mcdaniel-pt-2-ep-34-2026

Part 1: https://kutkutx.studio/in-black-america/tracye-mcdaniel-ep-33-2026

📘 Grab a copy of THE COST OF COOL: Austin's Tech Growth and the People Left Behind: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/

03/08/2026

Trade patterns are constantly evolving, reshaping infrastructure demands at ports of entry and along freight corridors. Compare import and export trends between the US and its two largest trading partners, Canada and Mexico, and see which commodities have experienced the greatest gains and declines since 2023.

Explore cross-border freight data here: https://tipstrategies.com/visualizations/tracking-cross-border-freight/

21/07/2026

Congratulations to Tracye McDaniel on her appointment as Chief Growth and Strategy Advisor at the International Economic Development Council (IEDC). Tracye will continue her work with TIP Strategies as a Strategic Advisor and shareholder, creating new opportunities to connect our clients with the ideas, relationships, and innovations shaping the future of economic development. We're excited for Tracye, for IEDC, and for the communities we serve.

Read more: https://www.iedconline.org/news/2026/07/20/iedc-updates/iedc-names-tracye-mcdaniel-chief-growth-and-strategy-advisor/

15/07/2026

Every career has a story. Thanks to host John L. Hanson, Jr. and In Black America for featuring TIP president Tracye McDaniel in this thoughtful conversation about her journey—from discovering economic development as a young reporter to leading organizations at the state level, and ultimately helping communities navigate growth with greater intention.

The discussion explores how those experiences shaped her contribution to the new book THE COST OF COOL. Through the lens of East Austin, she reflects on the city's tech growth, the importance of ensuring all communities have a seat at the table, and why understanding the human dimensions of economic development is essential to building stronger places.

We're excited to see Tracye's story featured on a program that has spent decades documenting the people and ideas shaping Black America.

🎧 Listen to Part 1 here: https://kutkutx.studio/in-black-america/tracye-mcdaniel-ep-33-2026

📘 Grab a copy of THE COST OF COOL: Austin's Tech Growth and the People Left Behind: https://www.tamupress.com/book/9781648433832/the-cost-of-cool/

On this edition of In Black America, producer/host John L. Hanson Jr. presents part one of a two-part discussion with Tracye McDaniel, founder and CEO of McDaniel Strategy Ecosystems, president of TIP Strategies, Inc., and co-author of ‘The Cost of Cool: Austin’s Tech Growth and the People Left ...

07/07/2026

For smaller communities, competitiveness increasingly depends on more than industrial infrastructure. TIP’s recent work in Tennessee illustrates how investments in parks, trails, downtown districts, and tourism assets can strengthen talent attraction, support business growth, preserve local character, and capture regional opportunity. Communities that embrace place-based infrastructure are better positioned for long-term economic vitality.

👉 Check out Alex Cooke's "Advancing Competitiveness Through Place-Based Infrastructure": https://tipstrategies.com/insights/2026/06/place-based-infrastructure/

29/06/2026

The next edition of our Theory Into Practice quarterly newsletter is coming soon. Sign up today so you don't miss it!

https://tipstrategies.com/newsletter-sign-up/

25/06/2026

Data center build-out remains a major topic for economic developers in communities of all sizes. At the same time, public opposition to these massive investments also continues to grow and has increasingly codified into moratoriums and outright bans. Local leaders should reframe their perspective on data centers as catalysts with the potential to drive innovation, if structured to center community benefits.

👉 Check out Evan Johnston's "Data Centers: Contentious Infrastructure of the Future": https://tipstrategies.com/insights/2026/06/data-centers-contentious-infrastructure-of-the-future/