One plant's expansion will help clean up the environment and create more job openings in Tampa Florida.



Envirofocus Technologies recently announced its plans to expand the company's plant during the next two years. That expansion will allow for the company to hire 125 new employees and increase its output of recycled lead acid batteries from about 10,000 per day to 50,000 per day.



"I see nothing but good today ... when we provide manufacturing jobs in our community," Mayor Pam Iorio told Tampa Bay Online, adding that this expansion is the largest addition to Tampa's manufacturing industry since her administration began in 2003.



The expansion project is expected to cost more than $100 million and take about 26 months to complete. Work at the current plant, which employs about 80 workers, will continue throughout the construction period.



Envirofocus Technologies was acquired by Minnesota-based Gopher Resource Corporation, a national automotive and industrial battery recycling company, in 2006. Prior to that, the company, then known as Gulf Coast Recycling, had a history of environmental violations for high levels of lead found in soil.



Envirofocus invested about $3 million to clean up the area. Jerry Campbell, the county air management director, said the company has plenty of funding and industry experience to build a modern, clean-running plant.



"East Tampa will be cleaner," he said, adding that the expansion will save about 10 million batteries a year from going into dumps or being burned in incinerators. "The entire state will benefit."



In addition to the expansion, Gopher Coast Recycling also has announced a $3,500 donation to Tampa Bay Technical High School for the purchase of equipment for the school's alternative energy program, as well as hands-on learning experiences, guest lecturers and internships for students.

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