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WASHINGTON, Mo. — The conglomerate headed by Florida-based billionaire investor David Hoffmann on Friday announced its acquisition of the Missourian newspaper in Washington, Hoffmann’s Franklin County hometown.

The purchase of the Missourian Publishing Co. also includes the paper’s digital platform, , and its commercial printing operation and real estate holdings. A price was not announced.

The deal adds to the Hoffmann Family of Companies’ growing list of media properties around the country. Hoffmann in March offered to open talks about acquiring Lee Enterprises, parent company of the Post-Dispatch and other newspapers.

The Missourian, founded in 1860, was bought by James L. Miller in 1937 and has been owned by members of the Miller family since then.

“My wife, Jerri, and I take great pride in our Missouri roots and share a deep passion for preserving local journalism,” Hoffmann said in a news release.

“This acquisition is a natural fit, and we are honored to uphold the Miller family’s rich legacy as we integrate The Missourian into Hoffmann Media Group.”

The Missourian is published twice a week.

Pason Gaddis, CEO of Hoffmann Media Group, said in the release that the group plans to make “strategic investments” in digital assets, such as a new website and app.

Gaddis said Hoffmann also plans to upgrade Missourian Publishing’s commercial printing operation, which prints more than 20 other newspapers and produces corporate newsletters, trade publications, promotional materials and other items.

Gaddis said the planned enhancements would help preserve jobs in Washington. A Hoffmann spokeswoman, Rachel Berkowitz, said Hoffmann Media Group will retain all 56 employees of Missourian Publishing.

Bill Miller Jr., The Missourian’s publisher, said in the release that “building this brand has been an incredible journey, and I am confident that the Hoffmanns will continue its legacy with the same dedication and integrity.”

An article Friday on The Missourian’s website says Hoffmann graduated from Washington High School and attributes his advocacy for local news to reading the newspaper in his childhood.

With the addition of The Missourian, Berkowitz said, Hoffmann now owns publications in 36 markets, including in Florida, Michigan and California.

Last year Hoffmann Media Group bought the Napa Valley Register in California and other papers from Lee for an undisclosed amount. In addition, a Hoffmann affiliate as of March owned about 10% of Lee shares and was the third largest shareholder.

In response to Hoffmann’s announcement in March that he was interested in buying all of Lee, Lee in a statement then said it would “evaluate and respond” if Hoffmann made a specific offer.

Lee also said it would extend a “shareholder rights plan” that would make a hostile acquisition of the company more difficult. Such plans, sometimes referred to as “poison pills,” are used by publicly traded companies to fend off takeovers. Lee’s would trigger if an entity accumulated 15% of its stock.

Berkowitz, the Hoffmann spokeswoman, and Tracy Rouch, a Lee spokeswoman, did not comment Friday on the Hoffmann-Lee situation.

Hoffmann, who has a home in St. Albans, began building his business empire in the late 1980s. It also includes Oberweis Dairy, Midwest manufacturing businesses, a Florida sports arena, recreational properties and commercial real estate businesses, among others.

He is perhaps best known in the 51���� area for his plans to spend up to $150 million in development projects in and near the St. Charles County town of Augusta, across the Missouri River from Washington.

But the project has not gone to plan, with some key pieces such as a hotel and golf course put on hold.