PITTSBURGH — Trademark Metals Recycling LLC is asking for a brownfield designation for its Tampa, Fla., site so that it can clean up the property and expand its business.

The city is recommending approval of Brownfields Redevelopment Act status, which would enable the David J. Joseph Co. subsidiary to take tax credits for up to half of eligible cleanup costs. Public hearings are scheduled to be held April 11 and May 2.

"We are pleased that the Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission and the city of Tampa’s brownfields coordinator are in support of including this site in the program," Trademark Metals president Timothy R. Brose said.

"The brownfields program is an excellent way for environmentally responsible companies like Trademark Metals to create new jobs and investments in sites contaminated by others. As part of this redevelopment effort, we have voluntarily agreed to clean up the historical pollution at the Tampa facility that we acquired," he said.

The company purchased the assets of Gulf Coast Metals Co. LLC last year (amm.com, Jan. 24, 2012) and has already invested more than $1 million in site improvements at the 3.24-acre site, it said.

In order to qualify for brownfield status, at least five new jobs need to be created. Trademark Metals has hired 24 workers since acquiring the assets and hopes to create nine additional jobs as it expands the aluminum recycling business with the rehabilitation and redevelopment effort, according to a document filed with the city.