Oakridge Global Energy Solutions will expand in Brevard County, FL creating 1,000 jobs and a $270 million capital investment. Oakridge Global Energy Solutions is an energy storage solutions company that develops and manufactures batteries and power systems.
In September, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions completed moving its corporate headquarters into a new 68,718-square-foot facility in Palm Bay. The new facility provides Oakridge with the space to install additional manufacturing equipment, increase production, and continue delivering American-made products. The company currently employs 36 Floridians.
“We appreciate the support of Governor Scott, Enterprise Florida, the EDC of Florida’s Space Coast and our local partners at the City of Palm Bay as we begin this great expansion,” said Steve Barber, Oakridge Global Energy Solutions’ Executive Chairman and CEO. “Oakridge Global Energy Solutions is proud to be a Florida business that offers high quality, American-made products to customers across the world, and we are excited to begin welcoming our newest team members. We’ve called the turning point of the ‘Made in USA’ onshoring movement pretty accurately – everyone loves that fact that we’re ‘Made in USA’ and bringing jobs back home to America– and a foreign player, by definition, clearly can’t compete with us on the ‘Made in USA’ deal. This project would not have been possible without the support of Enterprise Florida, and we look forward to our continued success in Brevard County.”
Florida is home to more than 18,600 manufacturing companies. The state’s more than 321,000 manufacturing employees produce a wide variety of goods including aerospace products, batteries, food and beverages, communications equipment, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, boats and more.
“Oakridge Global Energy Solutions could have moved their headquarters anywhere in the world and I am proud to announce that they chose to remain in Florida and create 1,000 jobs,” said Governor Scott. “Growing businesses like Oakridge Global Energy Solutions create opportunities for Floridians to provide for their families and build great careers, and that is why we will work with the Legislature to fully fund Enterprise Florida so more businesses have the opportunity to grow in Florida.”
The Oakridge Global Energy Solutions expansion was made possible through partnerships between Enterprise Florida, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast and the City of Palm Bay.
“Oakridge Global Energy Solutions expansion and creation of 1,000 new jobs is exciting news for our state,” said Bill Johnson, President & CEO of Enterprise Florida. “As we continue to diversify our economy and market Florida as the best state for business, projects like Oakridge are great examples of what we can accomplish as a state.”
“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.”
