Printing Center, 160 Jobs, Leave Harrison

The Gannett newspaper printing and packaging center in Harrison closed for good Sunday morning, eliminating 160 jobs.

The plant had been used to print and package newspapers by the Journal News and Poughkeepsie Journal. Starting Monday, the Journal News will be printed entirely in Rockaway, New Jersey.

"We are outsourcing the work," said Michael Fisch, president and publisher of the Journal News. "From an economic standpoint that makes more sense in the long term."

The Journal News has released information about the closing over the past few months, so the move is not a surprise to anyone.

The workers laid off at the plant were mostly equipment operators. Fisch said that the people who lost their jobs were not caught off guard and had been given ample time to prepare.

"It's considered a planned closing," he said. "So they have known about it for about 100 days."

Some of the workers had already left the company over the last few weeks, but those who stayed were laid off after Sunday's newspaper was printed.

An internal email sent to employees of the Journal News and obtained by Patch.com thanked workers who were leaving Sunday.

"I want to thank the many employess who will be leaving the company as this transition is completed," said the letter. "They have contributed a great deal to our company's success over the years, and we wish them the best as they transition to other opportunities."

The letter also said that the Journal News plans to slightly shorten the length of its newspaper.

The company is trying to sell the building, which is located at 1 Gannett Drive. That process is not expected to be completed until the end of the year. The Journal News is also considering keeping some offices in the building, but it is unknown at this time whether or not that will happen.

"The building will be sold," said Fisch. "The news and advertising and business operations will either lease space back in our buildings or we will relocate, depending on who buys the building and what their interests are."