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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Eli Lilly and Company Plans Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Manufacturing Operations

02/02/2026
American pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Eli Lilly and Company plans to establish production operations in Fogelsville, Pennsylvania. The more than $3.5 billion project is expected to create 850 jobs.

The investment will include the construction of a new 925,000-square-foot injectable medicine and device manufacturing facility, located at the Fogelsville Corporate Center, that will produce weight-loss therapies, including retatrutide, a first-in-class investigational GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon triple hormone receptor agonist. Operations are scheduled to begin in 2031.

"Lilly Lehigh Valley—our newest injectable medicine and device manufacturing facility—will increase access to next-generation weight-loss treatments and improve the domestic supply of essential medicines for current and future patients," said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. "Our investment here is more than just building a facility—it's about building a shared future with the people and communities of the Commonwealth. Through meaningful partnerships in Pennsylvania, we're committed to fostering collaboration, driving innovation, advancing environmental stewardship, and creating lasting positive impact that extends far beyond our facility walls."

To support the project the company received a funding proposal from Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (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. “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,” noted 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.”

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. Additionally, Eli Lilly is also receiving assistance through Pennsylvania’s Office of Transformation and Opportunity (OTO) on the project via the PA Permit Fast Track Program.

“Today, Eli Lilly and Company write the first page of a new chapter – the era of life sciences – in the Lehigh Valley’s proud history of making things in America,” added Don Cunningham, President & CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC).

Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, manufactures, and markets a broad range of innovative medicines for human health conditions including diabetes, obesity, cancer, immunology, and neuroscience.

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