Axios Denver

October 08, 2024
Howdy folks, it's Tuesday. Let's get to the news.
- Today's weather: Patchy smoke, then mostly sunny. High near 82.
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🎂 Happy birthday to our Axios Denver members Kevin Warner and Brianne Broughton!
Situational awareness: Former President Trump's campaign says he will visit Aurora on Friday, weeks after pushing false claims about Venezuelan gangs taking over the city.
Today's newsletter is 840 words — a 3-minute read.
1 big thing: Colorado Springs named a top city for tech talent growth
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.
2. GOP outspent in most competitive House race

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.
3. 🏡 Charted: Affording a starter home

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.
4. Mile Highlights: High Court to hear elephant rights case
🐘 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)
5. 🎵 Jack White's surprise show
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.
Our picks:
👋 John is back at his desk after some time away.
🥾 Alayna recommends hiking around Roxborough State Park near Littleton and stopping by Colorado Pinball Pub on the way home.
😂 Esteban wants to complete the "Mile High Burger Challenge" spoofed recently on SNL.
Thanks to our editor Gigi Sukin.
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