Eli Lilly and Company and the Lehigh Valley are joining together to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that will be designed for the research and production of injectable weight loss medications.

On Jan. 30 at Curiosity Hall in the Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown, an assortment of community members, business and political stakeholders joined Eli Lilly Chair and Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro to announce a major collaboration.

Ricks said it is expanding manufacturing sites in the United States and considered 800 applicants for this project before choosing the Lehigh Valley. He credits the tenacity of Shapiro as this project will come to fruition at a site in Upper Macungie.

“Our mission starts with patients and delivering the medicines they need. To meet increasing demand, we’re expanding our U.S. manufacturing network, with Lehigh Valley adding capacity for next‑generation weight-loss medicines. We’re creating high‑quality jobs and collaborating across the region – with suppliers, educators and workforce development partners – to make critical medicines in the U.S.,” Ricks said. “That’s our commitment – to patients, to our new Pennsylvania home and to our country.”

The property in Upper Macungie Township, owned by the Jaindl Corporation (under contract to buy), will be the “single largest investment in economic development since the days of Bethlehem Steel,” Don Cunningham, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation president and CEO said.

Manufacturing in Pennsylvania is 4% higher than the national average and is the largest industry within the state. Lilly proposes to invest $3.5 billion in this specific project. This will boost the Lehigh Valley economy on many levels.

For every dollar Lilly invests, it estimates up to $4 in additional local economic activity.

Ricks said Lilly is committed to the community and an interactive workforce development by including existing businesses and educational opportunities in its program. Lilly will connect with local nonprofits and encourage volunteerism.

Lehigh County Executive Josh Siegel pointed out, “Things are still made in the Valley and we should be proud of that. This is more than creating jobs and buildings; it is creating futures and careers for our residents and their families.”

This project will employ 850 engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.

Lehigh Valley Building and Construction Trades Council President Paul Anthony pointed out the many benefits of the shared commitment to building a safe, quality facility by skilled union tradesmen. “Government, businesses and labor, working together has made this project happen,” Anthony said.

This project will offer employment in the building trades, as well as apprenticeships leading to skilled union jobs. Construction is expected to begin this year and Lilly expects to create 2,000 construction jobs. The site will be operational in 2031.

Shapiro also pointed out the permitting reforms, the Pennsylvania Economic Development for a Growing Economy (PA EDGE), a collection of tax credit programs designed to attract new investments from businesses in critical manufacturing sectors, as well as The Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites Program (PA SITES), established to provide grant and loan funding to eligible applicants, helped this project.

PA SITES invested an initial $500,000.

The PA SITES program encourages businesses to build or relocate within Pennsylvania. The funding for the program includes two components that support the development of competitive sites within the commonwealth, and expansion of existing sites. Funding is made available through planning grants, construction grants and loans.

Ricks said this project is where “Curiosity meets Capability.” He reminded the audience of Lilly’s long history with pharmaceuticals starting post-Civil War. The emphasis was on defining ingredients and making safe, quality, accessible and affordable drugs for all Americans.”

The Lilly name will be seen throughout the valley.

“If it bares the red Lilly, you know it’s right,” Ricks said.