A render of Eli Lilly’s proposed Richmond Facility. Graphic from Eli Lilly.

By Shirleen Guerra
The Center Square

RICHMOND, VA. — A new $5 billion Eli Lilly plant in Goochland County is expected to bring 650 permanent jobs and 1,800 construction jobs, making it one of Virginia’s largest manufacturing projects.

The facility will be built at West Creek Business Park, west of Richmond. Lilly said it will be the company’s first fully integrated site in Virginia for producing active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished drug products.

The plant will support antibody-drug conjugates, a type of targeted cancer and autoimmune therapy, along with other medicines.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said the investment “reflects a major commitment to the Commonwealth” and added, “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.”

Lilly Chair and CEO David A. Ricks said the project is part of the company’s broader U.S. manufacturing expansion. “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,” Ricks said.

The project comes as the federal government pushes companies to expand drug production in the U.S.

In May, Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies to reduce regulatory barriers for building pharmaceutical plants. The order said new facilities can take five to 10 years to complete under current rules and described those delays as “unacceptable” for national security.

It called on agencies to speed up approvals so companies could add capacity more quickly.

Lilly’s announcement followed AstraZeneca’s July decision to build its largest manufacturing center in Virginia, the company’s biggest single facility investment worldwide.

Goochland County has about 27,000 residents, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 estimate. While the new jobs will draw from across the Richmond region, 650 positions is equal to about 2.4% of the county’s population.

The Governor’s Office said the commonwealth will also use the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program to help train workers. The program offers customized training in partnership with community colleges.

The release said Lilly will be eligible for up to $130 million in incentives approved by the Major Employment and Investment Project Approval Commission, tied to an investment of more than $2.1 billion and 468 jobs. The appropriation is subject to approval by the General Assembly.

Construction is expected to be completed within five years, according to the company.