Minnesota Star Tribune to sell Minneapolis printing plant, lay off 125 workers

The Minnesota Star Tribune will close its Minneapolis printing facility and outsource production to a Gannett plant in Des Moines, effective December 28. This decision will result in the layoff of 125 employees as the company grapples with a significant decline in print readership. The Heritage plant, operating at only 18% capacity, has been a local staple for 158 years. Publisher Steve Grove indicated that the move would save the company several million dollars annually, allowing for continued investment in digital journalism. While the publisher assured that print subscribers will not face service interruptions, earlier deadlines may hinder the inclusion of late-breaking news in the paper.

This trend reflects a broader industry shift, with many newspapers opting to outsource or cease print altogether due to financial pressures. Grove noted that the Star Tribune remains one of the last major newspapers with its own printing facility. The Heritage plant will be sold as part of this transition.