Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly and Company has unveiled plans to construct a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Goochland County, Virginia, marking a significant expansion of its domestic production capabilities. The announcement was made jointly by company executives and Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin, who praised the investment as a transformative moment for the state’s economy and the future of American pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The new facility, located in the West Creek Business Park just west of Richmond, will be Eli Lilly’s first fully integrated site dedicated to producing active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and drug products for its emerging bioconjugate and monoclonal antibody platforms. These advanced therapies are designed to treat cancer, autoimmune diseases, and other complex conditions, and represent a growing segment of the company’s research and development pipeline.
Construction is expected to span five years, generating approximately 1,800 jobs in the building phase. Upon completion, the plant will employ 650 highly skilled professionals, including engineers, scientists, and lab technicians. The site selection followed a competitive process involving over 400 locations nationwide, with Goochland ultimately chosen for its infrastructure readiness and strong support from local and state leaders.
Eli Lilly CEO David Ricks emphasized the strategic importance of the investment, noting that the facility will strengthen the company’s supply chain resilience and reduce reliance on foreign sources for critical drug components. “This is the perfect spot for us,” Ricks said. “It allows for faster construction, and speed is important when delivering breakthrough medicines.”
The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, in collaboration with the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and local universities, will support workforce development for the new site. Governor Youngkin hailed the project as a cornerstone of the state’s growing life sciences sector, stating, “By expanding manufacturing capacity here in the United States, we are securing America’s pharmaceutical supply chain and positioning Virginia to lead in the industries that will drive innovation for generations to come.”
This facility is the first of four new U.S. manufacturing sites Eli Lilly plans to announce in 2025, part of a broader $50 billion investment strategy aimed at reshoring pharmaceutical production and enhancing national security in the healthcare sector.
