A new report from commercial real estate firm CBRE ranked Colorado Springs the No. 2 up-and-coming market for tech talent in North America.

Why it matters: Colorado's second-largest city continues to rival Denver and Boulder for attracting tech talent from coastal hubs.

By the numbers: More than 20,000 tech workers were employed in Colorado Springs in 2023 — a 12% increase over the last five years, per CBRE's report.

• Wages have jumped 20% in the same period, with the average salary nearing $117,000.
• Meanwhile, software developer wages have grown nearly 16%, to about $126,000.

Zoom in: Roles in Colorado Springs fueling this growth include in-house software development and systems engineering operations from major players like FedEx, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Oracle.

• Quantum Metric became Colorado Springs' first unicorn in 2021, securing $200 million in VC funding and hitting a $1 billion valuation.

What they're saying: Colorado Springs' tech and cyber scene is shaped by the convergence of talent that streams out of its higher-ed system and, especially, its five military installations, Jessie Kimber, Colorado Springs' economic development director, tells us.

• There's "an enormous amount of talent and also an enormous amount of need, so it's kind of a beautiful clash of the titans between the two — and it really creates a unique ecosystem," she says.

State of play: To help bring in new businesses, the city offers performance-based tax breaks that essentially halve the general fund portion of local sales tax, which is 2%.

• The city also has a program called the Rapid Response Team that helps companies fast-track the permitting process, Kimber tells us.

The big picture

Democrats are outspending Republicans in the most expensive 2024 U.S. House races nationwide, including Colorado's most competitive district.

Zoom in: Spending backing U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Democrat, reached $16.7 million in Colorado's 8th Congressional District race.

• That total dwarfs the $9.5 million raised for her Republican challenger, state Rep. Gabe Evans, to take the suburban Denver seat.

Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y) and his allies are outspending Republicans in nine of the 10 most expensive House races of the cycle.

Between the lines: The spending figures include money used by candidates, parties and super PACs.

Threat level: The fundraising totals cement fears among House GOP leaders that the party is outgunned as it tries to maintain its majority.

The bottom line: Democrats are spending double what Republicans are on political ads in Colorado, giving them a significant advantage heading into the final weeks before the Nov. 5 election.

Full story

Denver is one of 21 major U.S. metros where buyers need at least a six-figure income to afford the area's typical starter home, according to Redfin's latest analysis.

By the numbers: Only 10% of metro Denver starter-home listings are affordable for middle-income households, the report shows.

• As of August, buyers needed an annual income of nearly $127,000 — down 1.5% from a year earlier — to afford the metro area's average starter home, priced around $412,000.

Yes, but: Despite the slight dip in Denver home prices as the housing market stabilizes, it's still challenging to be a first-time homebuyer.

The big picture: The income required to afford a starter home is nearly two-thirds higher than the national average of $77,000.

Share this chart

🐘 The Colorado Supreme Court this month will consider a lawsuit filed by an animal rights group that claims five elephants at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo are suffering from their captivity and should be released to a sanctuary. (CBS)

😷 Denver skies will be hazy this week due to smoke from wildfires in Utah. (9News)

✈️ DIA is celebrating the opening of its newest gate expansion area this month: A 120,000-square-foot renovation and expansion in Concourse A completed in partnership with Denver-based Frontier Airlines, Esteban reports.

• The area includes charging stations, a nursing room and a pet relief area.

🦇 Federal wildlife authorities closed access to 16 caves in Colorado's White River National Forest to help curb the spread of a deadly bat disease called white-nose syndrome. (Colorado Sun)

Rockstar Jack White will perform a surprise show tonight at one of Denver's most historic and intimate venues.

The big picture: White announced his plans one day before the concert at the 500-person capacity Bluebird Theater on Colfax Avenue, part of a recent string of performances at untraditional spaces, Westword reports.

Yes, but: Tickets to the show appeared to have sold out by yesterday afternoon.

Driving the news: White released his latest solo album "No Name" in August.

What he's saying: "Lotta folk asking about when we are going to announce 'tour dates,'" he wrote on Instagram.

• "We will mostly be playing at small clubs, back yard fetes, and a few festivals here and there to help pay for expenses," he wrote.

How it works: Ticket sales began at 1pm yesterday, with student ticket prices starting at $25, per AXS.

• Tickets were limited to two per person, are non-transferable and are only for people ages 16 and older.

What's next: Doors for tonight's show open at 7pm.

Tell a concert buddy