Houston: Eli Lilly to Build 1 Million-SF Pharma Plant

In Houston, Eli Lilly and Company will construct 1 million-SF active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing facility in northeast Harris County, the company reported during a press conference at the Generation Park development on Tuesday.

Eli Lilly will invest more than $6.5 billion and create more than 600 new jobs at the plant, which will produce substances that can be used to treat obesity.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott speaks at Eli Lilly event in Houston on Tuesday Sept 23, 2025 in Houston. Photo by Eduardo Leal (TGA)

“Texas is the best state in America for doing business,” said Governor Greg Abbott at a Tuesday event to announce the plant. “This announcement by Lilly will boost pharmaceutical manufacturing in the state of Texas and ensure that we do not rely on other countries for the manufacturing and supply of medicines and medical supplies. Texas is doing its part to bring manufacturing capacity back to America and expanding biomedical manufacturing right here in our great state.”

Eli Lilly’s new facility will bring 615 new high-wage jobs to the Houston area, including highly skilled engineers, scientists, operations personnel, and lab technicians.

“Our new Houston site will enhance Lilly’s ability to manufacture orforglipron at scale and, if approved, help fulfill the medicine’s potential as a metabolic health treatment for tens of millions of people worldwide who prefer the ease of a pill that can be taken without food and water restrictions,” said David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO. “This significant U.S. investment and onshoring of our API production capabilities will ensure faster, more secure access to orforglipron and to other life-changing medicines of the future.”

The Houston facility, to be located on 236 acres near Timber Forest Drive, is slated to be operational in five years, Eli Lilly said.

A Texas Enterprise Fund grant of $5.5 million has been extended to Eli Lilly, and the project has been approved under the Texas Jobs, Energy, Technology, and Innovation (JETI) program.

“This is a transformative moment for the Houston region and our life sciences industry,” said Greater Houston Partnership President and CEO Steve Kean. “The Lilly project represents one of the largest for-profit life sciences investments in Texas history and is a powerful endorsement of Houston’s growing position as a global hub for innovation, advanced manufacturing, and biomedical excellence.

Eli Lilly selected the Generation Park location from 300 applicant sites that desired to have the new facility, which will create 4,000 construction jobs.

Generation Park is a 4,300-acre large-scale planned development near Beltway 8, east of Highway 59, about a 10-minute drive from IAH Bush airport.

McCord Development, a Houston firm led by Ryan McCord, is developing Generation Park, which is near Lake Houston.

Rendering courtesy Eli Lilly

Gov. Abbott Photo: by Eduardo Leal (TGA)

Mark Your Calendar

CommGate will host its Economic Outlook –Wednesday, Oct. 15 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Houston Country Club. Economist Ted C. Jones, PhD, will present an economic forecast examining trends that will shape the real estate market in the coming year. Following the presentation, connect at a networking social with beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Free for members of CommGate, CCIM, and SIOR. Non-members $50. For information: click here.

More property reports