Governor Shapiro Secures Historic $3.5 Billion Investment from Lilly, creating 850 New Jobs
Feb 17, 2026
Governor Shapiro Secures Historic $3.5 Billion Investment from Lilly to Build New State-of-the-Art Manufacturing Facility in Lehigh County, Creating 850 New Jobs
January 30th, 2026
Pennsylvania has secured a record-breaking $3.5 billion investment from global pharmaceutical leader Eli Lilly, beating out multiple states in a highly competitive process. The Commonwealth, currently the only state in the Northeast with a growing economy, continues to emerge as a premier destination for life sciences companies.
A Landmark Project for Pennsylvania’s Life Sciences Sector
Lilly will build a next-generation pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County, the largest investment ever made by a life sciences company in Pennsylvania. The project is expected to create at least 850 new, high-quality jobs and anchor the region as a growing hub for innovation in biotechnology and advanced manufacturing.
State Support to Accelerate Growth and Job Creation
To secure the project, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) proposed a competitive funding package, including:
Up to $50 million in tax credits through the PA Edge Tax Credit Program
$25 million grant through the PA SITES Program (Pennsylvania Strategic Investments to Enhance Sites)
$25 million Pennsylvania First grant
Additionally, the Commonwealth will provide up to $5 million through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) to support workforce development. The funding will go to a local community college and/or technical school to create a training pipeline tailored to Lilly’s needs.
Leadership voices on the impact
“Lilly’s investment is an important win for the Lehigh Valley and the entire Commonwealth, creating at least 850 new jobs and further solidifying our position as a leader in economic development and life science innovation,” said Secretary Siger.
Lilly, founded in 1876 by Colonel Eli Lilly, was a pioneer in mass-producing insulin and the polio vaccine and continues to develop critical medicines in cardiometabolic health, oncology, immunology, and neuroscience.
“Our mission starts with patients and delivering the medicines they need,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “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. That’s our commitment—to patients, to our new Pennsylvania home, and to our country.”
The announcement follows expansions from several other life sciences companies, including Apozeal, Eurofins, B. Braun, and GSK.
