GateHouse to shut Framingham printing plant

The MetroWest Daily News reports from down the hall from its printing plant on New York Avenue in Framingham that its corporate parent GateHouse is shutting the plant down to save money.

GateHouse declined to say how many workers will be laid off, but said they will be offered first crack at some new jobs at other GateHouse printing plants in the Boston area. The newspapers editorial and sales offices will remain in Framingham; some of its design jobs had already been outsourced to GateHouse facilities in other states.

The plant dates to the 1970s, when the paper was known as the South Middlesex News. In addition to the News, it once printed the Boston alternative weekly the Real Paper.