Report: RR Donnelley Is Closing Its Gresham, Ore., Plant; 113 Workers Will Be Impacted

GRESHAM, Ore. — April 29, 2016 — The Oregonian reported yesterday that RR Donnelley will be closing its Gresham commercial printing plant, which is located east of Portland, later this summer. The newspaper indicated that the Chicago-based company notified the state of Oregon with its intentions on Wednesday, in compliance with federal WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) regulations that require 60 days advance notice for facilities employing more than 100 workers.

According to The Oregonian, the notification letter from RR Donnelley blamed "changing market conditions" as the reason behind the closure and indicated that the 113 employees there will be let go during a two-week period beginning August 1.

In 2006, the city of Gresham reportedly approved a five-year tax exemption on its portion of the property tax at the site to help fund a $30 million plant expansion. The paper indicated that employment at the Gresham facility had fallen from 300+ employees to just over half as many, and it was hoped that the 2006 expansion would add 50 jobs.

At publication time, RR Donnelley officials had not responded to a request from Printing Impressions for comment on the plant closure.