Eli Lilly And Company New Plant Rendering — Construction, expected to begin in 2026, is anticipated to generate 3,000 construction jobs. (Eli Lilly and Company)

Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly announced this week it plans to invest more than $6 billion in a new manufacturing facility in Huntsville.

The company also will bring 450 jobs to the region, including engineers, scientists, operations personnel and lab technicians.

The company plans to build a large-scale, multi-building campus including manufacturing, logistics, packaging, lab and utilities space. The 260-acre site sits along Interstate 565 near Exit 3.

Construction is set to begin in 2026, with completion slated in 2032. When completed, the site 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.

“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.

“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.”
David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO

Lilly chose the Greenbrier South site from more than 300 applications, partly based on its proximity to the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, an established bioscience campus that supports workforce training and research.

Other advantages include ready access to utilities, transportation and favorable zoning and incentives.

“This world-class biopharmaceutical facility will be built right here in Limestone County, bringing 450 high-value manufacturing jobs and 3,000 construction positions to our community. For every dollar Lilly invests, up to four more dollars in economic activity will be generated throughout our county.”
Bethany Shockney, Limestone County Economic Development Association President & CEO

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