Investment and Innovation: Multi-Billion Dollar Eli Lilly Facility Finds Home in Virginia
Summary
- Lilly will invest $5 billion to build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Goochland County.
- The Lilly announcement was the first of three major biopharma announcements in Virginia within a month in 2025.
- The new facility will support Lilly’s emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio.
- An already strong workforce from Virginia Commonwealth University and other local universities and community colleges will be supplemented by the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.
A Significant Expansion
Eli Lilly and Company, a global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, is investing $5 billion to construct a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Goochland County.
The new facility, which represents a significant expansion from an initial $2 billion investment, will serve as Lilly’s very first dedicated, active pharmaceutical ingredient and drug product plant and is expected to generate 650 high-wage jobs, along with 1,800 construction jobs in and around the Richmond area.
Virginia as a Cornerstone
The facility will play a critical role in positioning Virginia as a cornerstone of America’s domestic pharmaceutical supply chain, producing critical drug components and finished medicines while strengthening a supply chain on which so many rely.
The facility will focus on Lilly’s emerging bioconjugate platform and monoclonal antibody portfolio. Those medicines are used primarily to treat cancer but are also being explored for use with autoimmune diseases and other conditions.
Our investment in Virginia underscores our commitment to U.S. innovation and manufacturing. By expanding our domestic capacity, we’re building a secure, resilient supply chain that delivers for patients today and supports the breakthrough medicines of tomorrow.
David A. Ricks
Chair and CEO, Eli Lilly and Company
A Gain for Goochland
Lilly has committed to building four new manufacturing facilities in the United States, with the Goochland project being one of the first. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Goochland County and the General Assembly’s Major Employment and Investment (MEI) Project Approval Commission to secure the project.
Building Talent the Virginia Way
Support will be provided through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program, which was ranked as the No. 1 Customized Workforce Training Program in the United States by Business Facilities for the fourth consecutive year and by Area Development in 2025.
The program was created by VEDP in collaboration with higher education partners and delivers recruitment and training services that are fully customized to a company’s unique needs.
These services are provided at no cost to qualified new and expanding companies. To establish a globally recognized biopharmaceutical training system, all training and education, including community colleges and universities, are aligned with international best practices and standards.
A Legacy of Innovation
Lilly is a nearly 150-year-old pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, Indiana. With more than 49,000 employees worldwide, more than 22,000 employees are based in the United States. Lilly has manufacturing facilities located in nine countries, including U.S.-based facilities in Indiana, North Carolina, New Jersey, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.
Eli Lilly's Goochland facility: by the numbers
capital investment
direct new jobs created
construction jobs created
Meet your
biopharma partners
Dr. Jennifer Reynolds works with life sciences companies exploring growth opportunities in Virginia, connecting organizations with the resources, partners, and innovation assets needed to advance commercialization efforts, accelerate business growth, and strengthen the Commonwealth's life sciences ecosystem.
Karen Meier supports life sciences companies exploring expansion opportunities in Virginia, helping identify competitive locations and connecting businesses with resources across the Commonwealth’s life sciences network. Her work includes lead generation, site selection assistance, and coordination with regional partners.
