Eli Lilly announced plans on Tuesday to build a $5 billion drug manufacturing facility in Virginia. The announcement comes amid pressure from President Donald Trump to bring more drug manufacturing to the U.S. and threats to slap heavy tariffs on pharmaceuticals coming from overseas.
The new manufacturing plant will be built west of Richmond, Virginia, in Goochland County, according to a press release from the company. Eli Lilly says it expects the project to be completed in five years and claims it will bring “more than 650 new high-paying jobs to Virginia, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.”
Eli Lilly’s press release included a statement from Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who also noted the number of construction jobs that would be brought to the state.
“Lilly is one of the world’s great innovators, and I want to thank them for this significant commitment to Virginia,” said Youngkin. “This new facility in Goochland County will create 650 great jobs, along with 1,800 construction jobs, and deliver some of the most advanced medicines in Lilly’s portfolio, powered by the unmatched talent of our Virginia workforce.”
Youngkin, a Republican, touted the benefits to the U.S. supply chain, something that was severely disrupted during the covid-19 pandemic, leading to calls to bring more drug manufacturing to the U.S.
“By expanding manufacturing capacity here in the United States, we are strengthening our economy, securing America’s critical pharmaceutical supply chain, and positioning Virginia to lead in the industries that will drive innovation for generations to come,” said Yougkin.
Lilly first announced back in February that it would be investing over $27 billion into new manufacturing facilities, bringing its total investments to $50 billion since 2020. The company said Tuesday that three other U.S. manufacturing sites would