In a notable boost to Southeastern Wisconsin’s biohealth sector, Eli Lilly and Company has made public its plans for a $3 billion expansion of a Kenosha County manufacturing facility, an investment that aims to strengthen its parenteral product manufacturing on a global scale. The announcement came earlier this Thursday, with the pharma giant setting sights to meet increased demands for treatments in diabetes, obesity, and other therapeutic areas, as confirmed in a statement obtained by Lilly Investors news release. Complementing the workforce already in place, Eli Lilly is expected to bring 750 highly specialized new positions to the region.
Construction of the facility's expansion is slated for the following year and is part of a larger financial commitment exceeding $23 billion since 2020, dedicated to global manufacturing operations by Eli Lilly—that's according to a FOX6 News report. The expanded footprint in Wisconsin will focus on injectable medicines, alongside the assembly and packaging of medical devices, and will incorporate a breadth of technological advancements, from robotics to digital automation to enhance production processes.
Evidencing the strategic importance of this move, Edgardo Hernandez, the executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations, emphasized the project’s scale. "Today's announcement represents our single largest U.S. manufacturing investment outside our home state of Indiana and will add to our ability to expand capacity to make both our existing and future pipeline of medicines right here in the Midwest," Hernandez stated to Lilly Investors news release. This expansion is poised to not only upgrade manufacturing capabilities but also to foster employment growth by offering high-wage jobs in the fields of advanced manufacturing, engineering, and science.
Gov. Tony Evers, aligning with the enthusiasm surrounding this corporate investment, highlighted the implications for the local economy. "Southeastern Wisconsin has seen tremendous growth over the past year with major companies announcing significant investments in our state, and we are thrilled to add Lilly to that growing list with their $3 billion expansion that will add 750 highly skilled, family-supporting jobs to Kenosha County," Gov. Evers told FOX6 News. He recognized the potential of this development to further bolster Wisconsin's status as a leading hub in personalized medicine and biohealth, thereby affecting workers, families, and patients not just within the state but on a global scale.
Underscoring its commitment to innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing, Eli Lilly intends to build relationships with local educational institutions and support various community initiatives. This approach is expected to enhance innovation and prepare the workforce needed to complement the high-tech environment the new facility will encompass. As per a report by TipRanks, they are planning for more than 2,000 construction jobs during the project’s expansive build-out phase, additionally enriching the local job market during construction
