Construction Begins on $5 Billion Eli Lilly Plant in Goochland County
By Billy Briefman · October 23, 2026 · 2 min read read
Category: Business & Economy
Eli Lilly Breaks Ground on $5B West Creek Pharma Facility Originally reported by Richmond BizSense. Richmond BizSense Eli Lilly and Co. broke ground Oct. 23 on a $5 billion pharmaceutical...
Eli Lilly Breaks Ground on $5B West Creek Pharma Facility
Originally reported by Richmond BizSense. Richmond BizSense
Eli Lilly and Co. broke ground Oct. 23 on a $5 billion pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in the West Creek Business Park, marking one of the largest economic development investments in the region's history.
The project expands the global company’s manufacturing footprint into Goochland County. According to Richmond BizSense, the facility will focus on pharmaceutical production at the heart of the West Creek development, a hub that already hosts several corporate headquarters and industrial operations.
Economic Impact and Development
The $5 billion investment signals a shift for West Creek as it transitions into a major center for life sciences. According to reporting from Richmond BizSense, the scale of the facility aligns with Eli Lilly’s broader efforts to increase production capacity for various medical treatments.
Local officials and company executives gathered at the site to celebrate the start of construction. The facility will eventually house high-tech manufacturing equipment and specialized laboratory space designed to meet global demand for the company's products.
Future Operations in West Creek
While specific hiring timelines and total job counts remain tied to the construction schedule, the project expects to bring thousands of temporary construction jobs and hundreds of permanent positions to the RVA region. The facility will operate as a cornerstone of Eli Lilly’s domestic supply chain, according to project details shared during the groundbreaking ceremony.
Construction crews will continue work on the West Creek site through the coming years as the company prepares the specialized infrastructure required for pharmaceutical manufacturing.
This article is based on reporting originally published by Richmond BizSense. Channel RVA provides this coverage with additional local context for the Richmond community.