NORTHAMPTON — Collective Copies, a worker-owned, union copy shop, is in the midst of expanding and renovating its production facility at 93 Main St. in Florence, a project that will accommodate the consolidation of its longtime site at 71 South Pleasant St. in Amherst when that storefront closes on May 1.

Bringing the print and bind business under one roof was recently announced by co-owner Matt Grillo, who said the decision allows Collective Copies to adjust to the online print and ship market by casting a wider net, while also better serving the region’s customer base.

“By reuniting in Florence, we aim to stay in business for many years to come, and continue to deliver the best product available to our loyal customers,” Grillo said. “The support and collaboration of our co-op partners have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life.”

Both Off the Common Books, in which authors are assisted in self-publishing, and Levellers Press, which has published novels and short-story collections since 2009, will continue as part of Collective Copies. One recently printed book, that can be ordered through the Levellers website, is the “Lonesome Brothers Songbook,” which collects the songs of Jim Armenti and Ray Mason.

Grillo said revamping the space in Florence, located next to the Miss Florence Diner, will ensure there is sufficient room there for the six staff members to continue to do digital printing and providing products and services to businesses and individuals across the globe. Collective Copies also specializes in producing perfect-bound, paperback books.

It’s unknown what will happen to the Amherst location after it closes, Grillo said. The Amherst location is situated on the ground level of the W.W. Hunt Block, in a building between the former First Baptist Church, now Amherst College offices, and the former A.J. Hastings building.

Collective Copies was created out of a strike at Gnomon Copy Service, a chain of copy stores with an Amherst location originally in the basement at 103 North Pleasant St. That led to the founding of Collective Copies in March 1983, when the worker owner shop opened in cramped second floor office space at 25 North Pleasant St. Collective Copies has been at its current Amherst site since 1993.

The expansion of the production facility in Florence will allow Collective Copies to better serve clients by having the workforce at one site. For customers on the Amherst side of the river, Collective Copies will offer pickup and delivery, and will continue to ship printing orders to anywhere in the United States, and beyond.

Collective Copies is also continuing to partner with the Oxbow Design Build co-op, and the Cooperative Fund of the Northeast. These cooperative collaborations have enabled the collective to leverage a wide range of expertise and resources.

Randy Zucco, co-owner at Collective Copies, said the expansion shows the commitment to the craft of printing.

“We are incredibly excited to recenter the Collective here in Florence and make a meaningful difference in this growing community,” Zucco said.

Collective Copies has donated 10% of its pre-tax profits to local groups on both sides of the river. The worker-owners are also members of the United Electrical Radio and Machine Workers of America, better known as UE, Local 274, the Valley Alliance of Worker Co-ops, the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives, the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and Pioneer Valley Local First.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com