Eli Lilly broke ground on October 22 on a $5 billion manufacturing facility in Goochland County, Virginia, just west of Richmond, to make antibody drug conjugates for cancer treatment. The plant will be the company’s first to produce both active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished medicines on one site, creating 650 jobs and about 1,800 construction jobs.
According to Eli Lilly and Company, the Richmond site is one of 10 new US manufacturing sites announced since 2020 and one of five that will make active pharmaceutical ingredients, as part of a more than $50 billion US expansion. Governor Abigail Spanberger said the original plans called for a $2.1 billion investment, and Lilly has more than doubled it. The company expects construction to finish by 2030, with commissioning and regulatory approvals still needed before production begins. Lilly has also committed $40 million to the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, whose Goochland training center is targeted to open in 2028.
Training space is also taking shape in northern Virginia, where Arcola Center in Dulles is attracting skills and training users. St. John Properties delivered the first four buildings, about 130,000 square feet of flex space, and Enginuity Power Systems chose the park for its national training center, according to the developer. St. John planned to start four more flex buildings in early 2026, out of up to 10 buildings and 450,000 square feet at the 34 acre park.
Eli Lilly Richmond Manufacturing Facility Integrates API and Finished Medicine Production
The Richmond site will be the first Lilly facility to make both active pharmaceutical ingredients and finished medicines in a fully integrated plant, according to the company’s groundbreaking announcement. It will have dedicated ingredient capacity for bioconjugate and large molecule medicines.
CEO David Ricks said the integration lets the site “run the whole process here at Richmond.” The plant will make antibody drug conjugates, which combine an antibody with a potent cytotoxic medicine to attack diseased cells directly while limiting exposure to healthy tissue. Lilly is also exploring the approach for autoimmune diseases.
The facility will not make Mounjaro or Zepbound, the diabetes and weight loss medicines driving much of the company’s growth. Instead, it will use machine learning, AI and advanced data analytics across its operations and is targeting LEED Gold certification.
Ricks said in September 2025 that the plant would include more than 200,000 square feet of production space, or roughly three and a half football fields, along with offices and other areas at the West Creek Business Park.
Eli Lilly Richmond Manufacturing Facility Cost More Than Doubled Since Early Plans
Lilly announced the project on September 16, 2025, during former Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration. State officials said at the time that it would be backed by up to $130 million in appropriations, pending General Assembly approval.
The facility is expected to create 650 permanent positions, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and laboratory technicians, along with about 1,800 construction jobs. Lilly officials said site preparation and recruiting have already begun, and the company is currently hiring in Richmond. The other four ingredient sites in its program are in Huntsville, Alabama, Houston, Texas, and two in Lebanon, Indiana.
Ricks apologized to neighbors for disturbances during construction, saying the scale of the project could affect traffic patterns near West Creek.
Eli Lilly Richmond Manufacturing Facility Pairs With a $40 Million Workforce Network
The Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing is a statewide network of industry, government and higher education partners, with a pilot scale, hands on training center planned for Goochland County. Virginia Business reported that three companies have each committed $40 million to the effort. A memorandum of understanding with the state and several Virginia colleges and universities was announced in late October 2025.
The training is intended to help Virginians build careers in pharmaceutical manufacturing, including people who have never worked in the industry. Spanberger said the jobs need to be filled by Virginians.
Jonathan Christy, chairman of the Goochland County Board of Supervisors, called the groundbreaking a significant investment in the county. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer also attended the ceremony.
Project Overview
- Project Name: Lilly Richmond manufacturing facility
- Owner: Eli Lilly and Company
- Location: West Creek Business Park, West Creek Parkway, Goochland County, Virginia, just west of Richmond
- Project Type: Integrated active pharmaceutical ingredient and finished medicine manufacturing facility
- Project Value: $5 billion, against original plans of $2.1 billion according to Governor Spanberger
- Products: Antibody drug conjugates and other bioconjugate and large molecule medicines
- Production Space: More than 200,000 square feet, per Lilly’s CEO in September 2025
- Jobs: 650 permanent positions and about 1,800 construction jobs
- Groundbreaking: October 22, 2026
- Completion: Targeted by 2030, with commissioning and regulatory approvals to follow
- Sustainability: LEED Gold certification targeted
- Workforce Commitment: $40 million to the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, with a Goochland training center targeted for 2028
- State Support: Up to $130 million in appropriations announced in September 2025
- Broader Program: 10 new US manufacturing sites announced since 2020 as part of a more than $50 billion push
Project Team
Owner and Operator
- Owner: Eli Lilly and Company
Public Bodies
- State Government: Office of Governor Abigail Spanberger
- County Government: Goochland County Board of Supervisors
- Federal Government: Office of the United States Trade Representative
Landowner
- Business Park Owner: Markel
Contractors
- Design and Construction Contractor: Not publicly disclosed
Related Project: Arcola Center
- Developer: St. John Properties
- Training Tenant: Enginuity Power Systems
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