Eli Lilly to Build $470M Plant in North Carolina

Eli Lilly and Company will invest over $470 million and create more than 460 new jobs in Durham, Governor Roy Cooper announced.  The project will bring a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility to North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park.

“Life science companies like Lilly continue to choose North Carolina,” said Governor Cooper.  “Our exceptional workforce draws global companies as we continue to grow North Carolina into a worldwide hub for the biotechnology industry.”

Lilly, with headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, has a long heritage in discovering and making medicines.  Established in 1876, today Lilly is attacking some of the worlds most serious and debilitating chronic health issues — diabetes, cancer, autoimmune conditions, chronic pain, and Alzheimer’s disease, all among the world’s leading causes of death or disability.

This new manufacturing site will be a state-of-the-art facility that produces parenteral (or injectable) products and delivery devices. To operate the site, Lilly will create more than 460 jobs in highly skilled positions such as scientists, engineers, quality professionals and manufacturing operations. 

Lilly currently has seven manufacturing sites located in the United States in Indiana, New Jersey and Puerto Rico.

In the past two years, Eli Lilly has invested billions of capital in new U.S.-based manufacturing because the 2017 tax reform rebalanced the playing field in favor of the American worker. 

North Carolina is one of the nation’s leading centers for innovation in the life sciences and roster of biomanufacturers.

Although wages will vary depending on position, the average salary for all the new positions will exceed $85,000, which is greater than the current average wage in Durham County of $68,756.

Lilly’s project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant approved by the state’s Economic Investment. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $4.1 billion.