MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – A leading battery manufacturer just opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Merced - and they're bringing over 1,000 new jobs to the area and opportunities for local students.

Parasol Elite Power says the move to the "New Energy Valley California" will "elevate Merced as a national model for clean energy manufacturing, workforce development, and sustainable regional growth."

The company plans to start operating this fall with 150 full-time employees. By 2026, they say they will hire an additional 350 employees, and by 2027, they will bring more than 1,000 jobs to the area.

By then, Parasol Elite Power says it and its partner companies will invest more than $300 million in the Merced area, giving way to significant investments in education, agriculture, and

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