The Village of Skokie has partnered with TPMA to develop a new Economic Vitality Strategy that will guide business support, commercial district investment, redevelopment opportunities, and long-term economic priorities.
Identified as a key initiative of the Village’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, the strategy will build on the Village’s extensive planning efforts, using targeted research and community input to assess current conditions, identify emerging opportunities and establish practical priorities for the next five years.
“Skokie’s economy has a strong foundation, from vibrant commercial districts and a diverse business community to nationally recognized destinations and centers of innovation,” said Mayor Ann Tennes. “This strategy will help us build on those strengths and ensure future investments align with the community’s long-term strategic vision.”
The nine-month planning process will examine Skokie’s market position, commercial corridors, business environment, innovation ecosystem, placemaking opportunities, tourism assets, and visitor economy. It will also assess Skokie’s competitive position within the greater Chicago region and identify opportunities to strengthen business retention, attraction, investment and redevelopment.
“Skokie already has tremendous economic and community assets,” said Brett Wiler, Vice President of Economic Development and Strategic Planning at TPMA. “Our role is to build on the Village’s existing work, validate what we are seeing in the market and community, and translate those insights into an actionable strategy for the years ahead.”
Community and stakeholder input will be central to the process. TPMA and the Village will conduct interviews, focus groups, and other engagement activities to understand how businesses, residents, property owners, institutions, and community partners view Skokie’s economic opportunities and priorities.
“The goal is not to ask Skokie to start over,” said Zachary Rice, Principal Consultant and Project Lead at TPMA. “The Village has already done a tremendous amount of planning and community engagement. Our job is to build on that foundation, test it against today’s conditions, listen to the people who know Skokie best, and help turn those insights into priorities the Village can realistically advance.”
Community Validation Survey Coming Soon
As part of the planning process, the Village and TPMA will soon launch a Community Validation Survey inviting residents, businesses, employees, property owners and visitors to share their perspectives on Skokie’s economic strengths, challenges and priorities. The survey will help validate findings from previous planning and engagement efforts, identify where conditions or priorities may have changed, and gather additional input to guide the Economic Vitality Strategy.
Information about the survey and additional public engagement opportunities will be announced by the Village as the project progresses.
The strategy will be completed in spring 2027 and will include a five-year implementation framework with priorities, actions, performance measures and recommendations to guide the Village’s economic vitality efforts.
About the Village of Skokie
The Village of Skokie is a diverse and dynamic community located just 16 miles northwest of downtown Chicago. Home to more than 67,000 residents, Skokie combines convenient access to the Chicago region with strong neighborhoods, vibrant commercial districts, major employers, and renowned cultural and educational institutions. The Village is committed to good governance, delivering high-quality services efficiently, responsibly and inclusively while meeting community needs, planning for the future, and enhancing quality of life for all.
About TPMA
TPMA empowers organizations and communities through strategic partnerships and informed solutions that create positive, sustainable change. For community champions who are loyal to improving local and regional economic outcomes, TPMA provides professional consulting services and delivers transparent insights to the complete workforce, education, and economic development ecosystem that allows them to move forward together. TPMA envisions a world that thinks strategically, works collaboratively, and acts sustainably.