Eli Lilly and Company will invest $3.5 billion to build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, marking the largest economic development project in the region’s history and the biggest life sciences investment ever made in the state.
The facility will be located at the Fogelsville Corporate Center and span approximately 925,000 square feet. Once operational, it is expected to create 850 permanent jobs, including positions for engineers, scientists, lab technicians and operations staff. An estimated 2,000 construction jobs will be supported during the multi-year build.
The Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC) led the regional effort to secure the project. The site was selected following a nationwide search that reviewed more than 300 potential locations.
“Today, Eli Lilly and Company write the first page of a new chapter – the era of life sciences – in the Lehigh Valley’s proud history of making things in America,” said Don Cunningham, President and CEO of LVEDC.
Don Cunningham, President and CEO of LVEDC (Photo source: LVEDC)
Lilly Chair and CEO David Ricks said the company prioritized quality, workforce and long-term impact in its decision. “Everyone was committed to the same thing we were, which is building a high-quality facility, doing it the right way, providing great jobs for people in the region,” he said.
Pennsylvania has committed more than $100 million in incentives to support site development and workforce training. The facility will focus on producing injectable medicines and is expected to strengthen regional training programs, including initiatives at Lehigh Carbon Community College.
