Governor Cooper Announces Nearly 600 Jobs As Lilly Selects Cabarrus County For Major Pharmaceutical Plant

CABARRUS COUNTY, N.C. — NC Governor Roy Cooper announced Friday that Eli Lilly and Company, a global healthcare and biopharmaceutical company, plans to invest $1 billion and create nearly 600 new jobs in Cabarrus County.

The company will build a new pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Concord, demonstrating the presence of the biotechnology industry in all regions of North Carolina.

“Lilly’s choice brings more good jobs to North Carolina from one of our most important industries,” said Governor Cooper. “North Carolina has become a premier hub for the world, thanks to our exceptional workforce and commitment to education.”

Throughout it’s nearly 150-year history, Lilly has played a pioneering role in developing life-changing medicines – from insulin, which made diabetes no longer fatal, to COVID-19 treatments, which have helped save lives in the fight against the pandemic.

The new facility in Concord will utilize the latest technology to manufacture parenteral or injectable products and devices and increase the company’s manufacturing capacity. The site, in conjunction with the Lilly facility announced in 2020 in Research Triangle Park, will help the company strengthen its connections with the state’s universities and workforce development network, as well as gain access to a strong transportation network.

Lilly will create positions for engineers, scientists, and manufacturing operators, among others.

“Lilly is entering an exciting period of growth and we are committed to delivering innovative medicines to patients around the world,” said Edgardo Hernandez, senior vice president and president, Lilly Manufacturing Operations. “Expanding our manufacturing footprint in North Carolina enables us to continue to produce today’s medicines while providing additional capacity to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. We are pleased to again partner with North Carolina to bring jobs to American workers and provide more medicines that patients need to address health challenges.”

Although wages will vary depending on position, the average salary for all the new positions will be $70,555, which is greater than the current average wage in Cabarrus County of $43,687, according to a news release.

Lilly’s project in North Carolina will be facilitated, in part, by a Job Development Investment Grant (JDIG) approved by the state’s Economic Investment Committee earlier today. Over the course of the 12-year term of this grant, the project is estimated to grow the state’s economy by $5.7 billion.

“We’re excited to welcome these new jobs and this major investment from one of the best know pharmaceutical companies in the world,” N.C. Senator Paul Newton said. “Lilly’s decision to build in Cabarrus County will shine the spotlight on everything our community offers to growing, world-class companies.”