Eli Lilly and Company announced at a press conference this afternoon a $3 billion expansion of their manufacturing facility in Kenosha County. The expansion will extend the company’s global injectable product manufacturing capabilities, helping to meet the growing demand for its diabetes, obesity, and future product lines.

“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,” said Edgardo Hernandez, executive vice president and president of Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “We look forward to bringing high-wage, advanced manufacturing, engineering and science jobs to people in Wisconsin, a state that is becoming a critical geography in our global manufacturing operations.”

“Lilly’s incredible investment here is a watershed moment for Kenosha County. To have one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world choose to expand its manufacturing operations in our community is thrilling and speaks to the hard work our leadership has done across all levels to make Kenosha County a premier destination for new investment in the Milwaukee-Chicago corridor,” said Nicole Ryf, president of the Kenosha Area Business Alliance. “We have enjoyed working with Lilly on this project and know they will be an employer of choice in Kenosha County and an engaged corporate citizen. We wish them much continued success and look forward to partnering with them in the years to come.”

Lilly expects to add 750 highly skilled jobs to the current 100-plus workforce at this location. Those new positions at the site include operators, technicians, engineers, and scientists. Additionally, Lilly expects to employ more than 2,000 during the construction of the expansion.

Kenosha County Executive Samantha Kerkman remarked, “This is a historic investment in our county and our state. It was exciting to welcome Eli Lilly to the community earlier this year, and today it’s gratifying to see the company announce this monumental expansion in Kenosha County — the Gateway to Wisconsin. This development will have a significant impact on our local economy, and it further demonstrates how Kenosha County has become a destination of choice for high-quality employers from all over the world. I thank Eli Lilly for making its decision to grow its business here, and Gov. Evers for committing the significant state support that helped move this development forward.”

Lilly announced the acquisition of a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Prairie Highlands Corporate Park in the Village of Pleasant Prairie in April 2024. They bought the facility from Illinois-based Nexus Pharmaceuticals, which had built the 100,000-square-foot facility in 2019.

“The Village of Bristol is excited to welcome Eli Lilly to our community.  Lilly is a Fortune 150 company with over 40,000 employees worldwide.  During recent years, you have seen Bristol become a very willing partner in local economic development efforts.  The I-94 corridor will continue to be desirable for attracting major corporate partners that often bring hundreds of family-supporting jobs. Let’s keep it up and be proud of the important work we do,” said Mike Farrell, Village of Bristol President.

Lilly aims to partner extensively with local higher education institutions to advance innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing and support various community initiatives in southeastern Wisconsin.

“Gateway Technical College is excited to support Lilly through workforce development and customized training to ensure a robust pipeline of talent,” said Gateway President Ritu Raju. “Gateway has a strong track record of working with industry partners to develop programs and training that align perfectly with their needs. These partnerships have contributed to mutual success for our industries and our students. We look forward to serving Lilly with the same agility and excellence.”

The acquisition, expansion, and additional purchases of land and the adjacent warehouse bring Lilly’s total planned investment in Kenosha County to $4 billion. The expanded facility will focus on manufacturing injectable medicines, device assembly and packaging for medicines across multiple therapeutic areas.

“We’re delighted that Lilly has chosen our region for this transformative investment,” said Gale Klappa, co-chair of Milwaukee 7 and Chairman of the Board of WEC Energy Group. “A global leader in pharmaceutical innovation, Lilly recognizes the strong educational systems and skilled workforce in the Milwaukee Region – essential assets that will support Lilly’s strong growth. This investment clearly underscores the emergence of our region as a hub for medical technology and manufacturing.”

Eric Rindfleisch, Village Administrator at the Village of Pleasant Prairie remarked, “The Pleasant Prairie region offers employers access to a highly skilled workforce, abundant opportunities for growth, and a vibrant community with a high quality of life. We are thrilled that Lilly has chosen our dynamic community as a key location for their growth. We warmly welcome Lilly and look forward to partnering with them as they join us—bringing their reputation as a premier company and employer to our community.”

The company plans to start construction on the expansion next year.