Delilah Milne

Lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems has crossed the 1,000-employee threshold in Metro Detroit by growing its offices in Livonia, Romulus and Ann Arbor.

"We expect to hire a few thousand more over the next couple of years," says Dan Borgasano, public relations manager for A123 Systems. "The demand for our technology is growing and we expect to continue hiring in Michigan to accommodate that growth."

A123 Systems makes advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The Massachusetts-based business received a $249 million federal grant to develop and manufacture these batteries as part of the federal stimulus package. This battery is a key part of the electric vehicle advancement championed by Pres. Obama's administration in recent years.

The battery maker has a research and development office in Ann Arbor and recently opened manufacturing sites in both Livonia and Romulus. It plans to continue expanding all three offices as it ramps up production.

Source: Dan Borgasano, public relations manager for A123 Systems

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Metro Detroit keeps its millionaire reputation

Whew! For a minute there I thought our region was having serious economic problems. Good thing we still rank in the top 10 for millionaires (we're number 9).

Excerpt:

"It is a surprise that Detroit has a single millionaire, let alone over 90,000. Both the car industry and the large number of companies that supported it with parts, technology and components like tires all suffered as sales fell. GM and Chrysler went into bankruptcy. But the industry has begun an unexpected renaissance. GM and Ford are routinely the top two manufacturers of cars sold in the U.S. Each has cut costs enough to insure profitability. Michigan has offered tax incentives to bring new industries to the Detroit area, helping it become a modest center for small tech firms."

See the list here.

Source - MetroMode