Eli Lilly and Company announced Tuesday it will invest more than $6 billion to build a major new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Alabama, a blockbuster economic development win that state leaders say will be the largest initial investment in Alabama history.
The project, planned for the Greenbrier South area in Huntsville, will be a next-generation active pharmaceutical ingredient site focused on domestic production of “small molecule synthetic and peptide medicines,” according to the company.
Lilly says the facility is expected to create about 3,450 total jobs, including 3,000 construction jobs and 450 permanent, high-skilled roles such as engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.
“Today’s announcement is tremendous news for Huntsville and for our state. Lilly’s $6 billion investment and the creation of thousands of good-paying jobs will strengthen domestic production of lifesaving medicines,” U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) said.
“This 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. 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.”
Lilly said the Huntsville plant will be among its sites that manufacture orforglipron, the company’s oral GLP-1 medicine in development.
The company expects to submit orforglipron to global regulators for obesity by the end of this year, and described the Huntsville site as part of its effort to expand U.S.-based capacity for next-generation medicines.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with completion anticipated in 2032, 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. Our roots in the biosciences industry run deep, and Alabama’s contributions to this burgeoning sector continue,” Governor Kay Ivey said today.
“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 said it selected the Huntsville location from more than 300 applications, citing workforce strength, infrastructure advantages, and proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, a Huntsville-based bioscience campus involved in workforce development and research.
The company also pointed to favorable zoning and incentives, as well as the region’s access to utilities and transportation materials.
State lawmakers have spent recent years renewing the landmark Alabama Jobs Act, and enhancing incentives like those being utilized by Eli Lilly, through legislation such as the SEEDs Act, The Game Plan, Working for Alabama, and Powering Growth.
“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.”
Nationally, the announcement fits into Lilly’s broader U.S. manufacturing push.
Huntsville site is part of the company’s plan to spend at least $27 billion on four new U.S. manufacturing sites, amid intensifying pressure to produce more medicines domestically rather than relying on overseas supply chains.
And it’s good for the state.
According to leaders, for every dollar Lilly invests there, it estimates up to four dollars 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.
“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,” Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle said.
“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.”
Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.
