Massive Growth Plans Unveiled by Eli Lilly: investing billions in expansion at Pleasant Prairie locale
Eli Lilly Secures Final Approval for $3 Billion Wisconsin Expansion
Pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly has secured final approval from Pleasant Prairie's Plan Commission for a multibillion-dollar expansion of its operations in Wisconsin. The decision clears the way for contractors to apply for construction permits.
The Indianapolis-based drug company bought an 84,000-square-foot facility at 10300 128th Ave. from Nexus Pharmaceuticals last April. The plant will be used to produce injectable medications, such as pre-filled syringes and glass vials.
Constructing three-story office and manufacturing space with a cafeteria on the west side and a 13,940-square-foot warehouse with four dock doors on the north face, the expansion will create 750 new permanent jobs, according to project documents.
Preliminary approval for the project was granted in December, allowing initial excavation, foundation construction, and underground utility installation to commence. Monday night's unanimous vote marks the final hurdle before full-scale construction can begin.
Lilly has committed over $23 billion to manufacturing investments since 2020. The Wisconsin project accounts for $4 billion in total investment, including land acquisition and construction of an adjacent warehouse.
The expansion forms part of Eli Lilly's strategy to expand its global injectable product manufacturing network to meet increasing demand for medications addressing diabetes, obesity, and pipeline treatments. The company plans to integrate automated filling technology into its injectable drugs at the facility.
In a broader context, this project is one of the largest economic development victories in the area, expected to greatly impact the local economy. It should be noted that Eli Lilly is also investing $4.5 billion in a Medicine Foundry in Indiana, but this separate initiative is not connected to the Wisconsin expansion.
The expansion of Eli Lilly's operations in Wisconsin, valued at $3 billion, will include the application of technology, integrating automated filling technology into its injectable drugs. The construction phase, now cleared, will incorporate three-story office and manufacturing space, along with a warehouse.
