Plant expansion will provide 125 new jobs in East Tampa

Within about two years Envirofocus Technologies will have a larger plant than it does now and boost its daily output of recycled lead acid batteries from about 10,000 a day to 50,000 daily.

The company also plans to hire 125 new employees. A job fair will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at Tampa Bay Work Force Alliance offices at 9215 N. Florida Ave., Suite 103. Salaried and hourly positions are available.

Today, Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, city council Chairman Tom Scott and Councilman Charlie Miranda joined company officials for a groundbreaking outside the company's existing plant at 1901 N. 66th St.

Iorio said the expansion was the largest addition to Tampa's manufacturing industry since her administration began in 2003.

"I see nothing but good today ... when we provide manufacturing jobs in our community," she said.
The project will cost more than $100 million and take about 26 months to complete. Company officials said work at the existing plant, with about 80 current employees, will continue during construction.

Envirofocus Technologies was acquired in 2006 by Minnesota-based Gopher Resource Corporation, a national recycler of automotive and industrial batteries.

In the mid-1990s previous owners of the plant, then operated as Gulf Coast Recyling, had a troubled history of environmental violations for high levels of lead found in soil. Envirofocus spent about $3 million cleaning up the area, even though it was not responsible for the contamination.

Envirofocus has the "deep pockets" and industry experience to build a modern, clean-running plant, said Jerry Campbell, the county's air management director.

Once the expansion is complete, about 10 million batteries a year no longer will end up in dumps or burned in incinerators, Campbell said. "East Tampa will be cleaner," he said. "The entire state will benefit."

At Tuesday's ceremony, Gopher executive Mark Kutoff announced a $3,500 donation to Tampa Bay Technical High School for the purchase of equipment for the vocational school's alternative energy program.

Company representatives also will provide hands-on learning experiences and guest lectures for students, and possibly internships for graduating seniors.

"It really is a remarkable opportunity," said Johan von Ancken, Tampa Bay Tech's assistant principal for curriculum.