Governor Polis and the Global Business Development Division of the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT) formally announced today that Caliola, a 100% woman-owned communications technology firm that specializes in supporting the defense industry, has selected Colorado Springs, Colorado for expansion.
“We’re thrilled Caliola has chosen Colorado Springs for their expansion which will create 372 new, good-paying jobs for our state,” said Gov. Jared Polis. “It is another example of the progress our administration has made to support existing companies and create new jobs across the state so that every Coloradan can thrive.”
Founded in Colorado Springs in 2019, Caliola started with 4 employees and grew to a staff of more than 40 in less than 3 years. The company supports Colorado Springs’ defense and space industry, providing innovative technical solutions and services for secure and resilient communications, including expertise in Nuclear Command, Control, and Communication (NC3); military satellite communications (SATCOM); modernized High Frequency (HF) communications; automated SATCOM planning; non-traditional cybersecurity architectures; and assured position, navigation, and timing (PNT). By selecting Colorado Springs for expansion, the company will grow its current presence in the city’s enterprise zone to support additional growth in staffing and advance research and development.
“When I began looking for a community to start Caliola, there were many qualities that brought not only my business but my family, to Colorado Springs. The welcoming community, the robust business industry—which includes many military assets that Caliola currently supports—the high-quality candidates that we employ, and the support Colorado offers small businesses have all made it a great fit. We are thrilled to expand in Colorado Springs,” said Caliola’s Founder, President & CEO, Jennifer Halford.
In addition to growing its Colorado Springs headquarters, Caliola is considering opening a small office in the Denver area to manage a hub of employees that have been hired in the area. Overall, the company expects to create 372 net new jobs at an average annual wage of $143,247, which is 232% of the average annual wage in Jefferson County and 271% of the average annual wage in El Paso County. These positions will support engineering services, Small Business Innovative Research contracts, Department of Defense products, commercial products and executive/support roles.
“Colorado Springs is a hub of innovation for the defense industry. The company’s commitment to Colorado Springs will benefit the advancement of this vital Colorado industry and contribute to thriving local and statewide economies,” said OEDIT Executive Director Patrick Meyers.
“The Chamber & EDC is proud to play a role in assisting Caliola to achieve growth goals by leveraging our partners at the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade. Nurturing local businesses and helping them grow is at the heart of what we do,” said Kelly Leaverton, Vice President of Defense and Economic Development, Colorado Springs Chamber & Economic Development Corporation.
The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved up to $3,942,340 in performance-based Job Growth Incentive Tax Credits over an 8-year period to Caliola, referred to as Project Power throughout the OEDIT review process. In addition to Colorado, the company considered San Diego, California and Tampa, Florida for their planned expansion.