Pennsylvania has secured a $3.5 billion private-sector investment from global pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Company to build a new, state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County. Lilly’s investment is the largest by a life sciences company in Commonwealth history.
Supported by $100 million in Commonwealth investment, this expansion project will create at least 850 new jobs over the next five years and continue growing Pennsylvania’s robust pharmaceutical and life sciences industries.
“Lilly’s investment is an important win for the Lehigh Valley and the entire Commonwealth, creating at least 850 new jobs and further solidifying our position as a leader in economic development and life science innovation,” said DCED Secretary Rick Siger. “This announcement also further proves that our Economic Development Strategy is working to attract historic, new investments to Pennsylvania. We will keep competing for major projects like this one that will continue to strengthen our life sciences industry, create good-paying jobs, and fuel economic growth across the Commonwealth.”
Lilly is purchasing a site in Fogelsville. This will be the first Lilly manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania and represents a long-term commitment to the Commonwealth from one of the world’s leading drugmakers.
Lilly received a funding proposal from DCED for up to $50 million in tax credits through the PA Edge Tax Credit Program, a $25 million grant through the PA SITES (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites) Program, and a $25 million Pennsylvania First grant.
The state has also committed to providing a Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) award of up to $5 million to a local community college and/or technical school to help create a workforce development training program that would serve as a talent pipeline for the company in the Lehigh Valley.
Lilly manufactures and distributes products through facilities in the United States (U.S.), including Puerto Rico, and in Europe and Asia. Their products are sold in approximately 95 countries. Established in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, the company was an early mass producer of insulin and the polio vaccine. Lilly develops and manufactures various prescription medications across therapeutic areas, including cardiometabolic health, oncology, immunology and neuroscience.
“Our mission starts with patients and delivering the medicines they need. To meet increasing demand, we’re expanding our U.S. manufacturing network, with Lehigh Valley adding capacity for next-generation weight-loss medicines. We’re creating high-quality jobs and collaborating across the region—with suppliers, educators, and workforce-development partners—to make critical medicines in the U.S.,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “That’s our commitment—to patients, to our new Pennsylvania home and to our country.”
