Eli Lilly announces plans for $6 billion manufacturing facility in Alabama; 450 jobs expected
Eli Lilly and Company announced Tuesday it was investing more than $6 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama.
The next-generation synthetic medicine active pharmaceutical ingredient facility will produce small molecule synthetic and peptide medicines. It is the third of four new U.S. sites Lilly plans to announce.
The site will be among those that will manufacture orforglipron, Lilly’s first oral, small molecule GLP-1 receptor agonist, which the company expects to submit to global regulatory agencies for obesity by the end of this year.
Lilly will bring 450 jobs to the area, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians, the company said. Work on the facility is expected to begin in 2026 and will generate 3,000 construction jobs. Completion of the state-of-the-art facility is expected in 2032.
Artist rendering of Eli Lilly’s planned $6 billion pharmaceutical facility at Greenbrier South in Huntsville.Eli Lilly
Site selected from 300 applicants
The site at Huntsville’s Greenbrier South industrial park was selected from more than 300 applications. Its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, an established bioscience campus that supports workforce training and research, played a major role in the selection of the site, the company said.
In addition to its workforce potential, the region offers ready access to utilities, transportation and favorable zoning and incentives, Lilly said.
“Huntsville’s track record of science and innovation, supported by advanced manufacturing expertise and a skilled workforce, makes Alabama an ideal location for Lilly to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for next‑generation medicines,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “Today’s investment continues the onshoring of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, strengthening supply chain resilience and reliable access to medicines for patients in the U.S.”
Expanding Lilly’s U.S. manufacturing presence in Alabama will boost the Huntsville economy. For every dollar Lilly invests there, it estimates up to $4 in additional local economic activity. Also, for each manufacturing job created, several more will be generated in related sectors like supply chain, logistics and retail, the company said,
“Huntsville and our entire state have a proven legacy of innovation, and there is no better home for Lilly than right here in Alabama,” said Gov. Kay Ivey, who was present at the company’s announcement at the Von Braun Center’s Mars Music Hall. “Our roots in the biosciences industry run deep, and Alabama’s contributions to this burgeoning sector continue.
“We are proud to welcome Lilly’s new U.S. manufacturing facility, which we are thrilled is the largest initial investment in our state’s history. No doubt, Alabamians will help Lilly do things that have never been done before, and we will ensure this great company achieves their mission of improving the health and well-being of people all around the country and globe.”
“Lilly’s decision to invest $6 billion in a next-generation pharmaceutical manufacturing facility here in Huntsville is a tremendous vote of confidence in our people and our future,” Mayor Tommy Battle added. “Huntsville has long been a place where innovation thrives and hard, ‘impossible’ things get done. We’re proud to welcome Lilly to our community and excited to help shape the next era of breakthrough medicine.”
Lilly plans to use the latest technologies, including machine learning, AI, digitally integrated monitoring systems and advanced data analytics to drive right-first-time execution. Digital automation will be embedded throughout the site to streamline operations and ensure a reliable supply of safe, high-quality medicines.
“By establishing this new facility, Lilly is deepening America’s expertise in advanced chemical synthesis and setting new standards for sustainable manufacturing,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “Our investment not only expands our technical capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship, leveraging innovative processes to minimize waste and achieve carbon neutrality. Each step forward strengthens our U.S. operations and supports healthier communities for the future.”
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said the commitment “further cements ‘Made in Alabama’ manufacturing as the gold standard and will help usher in a new golden age of American manufacturing, right here in Sweet Home Alabama.”
“This project also underscores President Trump’s leadership in driving major domestic investments to revitalize and unleash American manufacturing dominance and biomedical innovation,” she said. “I’m proud to be a federal partner as we continue working to provide life-changing opportunities for Alabamians so our world-class workforce can continue to power America’s future.”
Earlier this year, Lilly announced plans to bolster its domestic medicine production across therapeutic areas. The company recently revealed plans to build sites in Texas and Virginia and to expand an existing manufacturing site in Puerto Rico. Another U.S. location will be announced in the coming weeks.
