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Claudia Devitt, Sr Manager, Marketing and Communications
(321) 638-2000
CDevitt@SpaceCoastEDC.org

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions Chooses

Palm Bay for Major Manufacturing Expansion

Expansion to bring 1,000 New Jobs to Brevard County

Brevard County, Fla. (October 6, 2015) – Oakridge Global Energy Solutions (OGES), a global leader in the development and manufacturing of solid-state battery systems and lithium technology, will expand its operations into a larger 230,000 square foot facility in Palm Bay, Florida and create 1,000 new jobs.

Oakridge Global Energy Solutions (OGES), is an integrated “made in USA” energy storage solutions company that uses state-of-the-art technology to develop and make advanced, high quality cells, batteries and power systems. The Palm Bay expansion will deliver these transformational battery products across a range of industrial segments.

“We’ve called the turning point of the ‘Made in USA’ onshoring movement pretty accurately,” said Oakridge Executive Chairman & CEO, Steve Barber. “We are bringing jobs back home to America, and as a foreign player by definition, few can compete with us on the ‘Made in USA’ movement.”

OGES’ expansion is in the process of bringing manufacturing related jobs to Brevard County with an average annual wage of $50,075.

“It is gratifying to see this project move forward in Brevard, not only because of its scale, but also, because it brings even more diversity to our manufacturing base,” said EDC president and CEO, Lynda Weatherman. “As we work together to elevate manufacturing as a profession, programs like the Certified Production Technician (CPT) program will enable residents to start on a path that enables them to take advantage of the opportunities companies like Oakridge are creating.”

The selection of Palm Bay is a high-tech match. Only six locations in the United States have a higher concentration of workers in advanced industries. According to a recent Brookings Institute report on the Hottest Metros, 13.5 percent of jobs in Palm Bay are in science, engineering and technology industries. Only Washington, San Francisco, Detroit, Wichita, Seattle and San Jose rank higher in comparison.

“The workforce potential in our community is significant and a company like Oakridge Global Energy Solutions will add to what we already know Palm Bay to be, a value added place to work live and play,” said Andy Anderson, Economic Development Officer for the City of Palm Bay.

The company recently held a community job fair in Palm Bay, and continues to accept applications for a number of key positions. Interested candidates can call CareerSource Brevard at 321-504-7600 or log on to EmployFlorida.com and search by job order number.

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About the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast
The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is dedicated to attracting new business and investment and expanding existing industry throughout the Space Coast, influencing change on government laws and regulations affecting economic development, promoting the Space Coast to encourage new investment, supporting efforts of Space Coast military installations, and relaying new programs and procedures to assist manufacturing and high tech companies. The EDC is a private, not-for-profit coalition whose stakeholders are business leaders committed to the economic growth and stability of Florida’s Space Coast. Visit www.SpaceCoastEDC.org.

About Global Energy Solutions, Inc.
Oakridge Global Energy Solutions, Inc. is a stored energy technology company that focuses on making and developing advanced, high quality batteries. The company simultaneously delivers innovation and builds an industrial scale platform that includes multiple lithium battery chemistries, technologies, and form factors that are optimized to address multiple key markets: Stationary Energy Storage; mobile applications including fleet vehicles, EV, and HEV; Government applications including Military, Aerospace, Marine, Civil, and Municipal; Starter Motor Batteries; Consumer Applications; and Special Applications including Medical and Telecom. Products include electrochemical cells, Batteries, and Battery Systems with graphical user interface energy management systems.