Metro Denver is steering confidently toward its projected 3.6 million residents by 2030, with job growth holding near 1.2% in 2025 and unemployment staying under 4%. That stability is luring investment and fueling a #9 ranking in Economic Output and #16 in Labor Force Participation. Austria-based VertiGIS has opened its U.S. utilities HQ downtown, citing the metro’s deep geospatial tech talent, while the $29-million bond-funded conversion of a vacant Tech Center office into 143 attainable apartments is the first of several office-toresidential pilots set to deliver by 2026.
Hospitality is on the rise. The carbon-positive, biophilic Populus tower with its 265 rooms has been attracting conference attendees and theatergoers since its October 2024 debut, burnishing a #63 ranking for Theaters and Concerts. A 1,500-key pipeline includes Virgin Hotels Denver Fox Park (opening in late 2025). Retail expansion mirrors the growth: two new Costco stores are landing in the coming year, and LoDo’s Dairy Block is adding new spots. On the South Platte, infrastructure work starts on The River Mile megaproject in 2025 to prep for mixed-use towers, parks and a new aquarium by the early 2030s. At Denver International Airport, 2024’s record 82.3 million passengers have fast-tracked the Vision 100 plan, with Concourse A and B expansions due by 2026.