Vice President of Talent Strategies at the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation

Karianne Gelinas

Lehigh Valley's deep manufacturing base, community college partnerships, and apprenticeship programs positioned the region to attract Eli Lilly's investment.

Why Eli Lilly Chose Pennsylvania for its $3.5B Facility

Karianne Gelinas, vice president of talent strategies, Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation (LVEDC), explains why 

Eli Lilly selected the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania for investing $3.5 billion in establishing a new injectable medicine facility.

Gelinas emphasizes that the Lehigh Valley's appeal to Lilly was not accidental. The region hosts 11 colleges and universities, 2 community colleges, and 3 career and technical schools, all operating within an area where manufacturing accounts for 16% of gross regional product.

A pivotal factor in Lilly's decision was the existing partnership between Lehigh Carbon Community College and Wake Tech in North Carolina. Lehigh Carbon had already secured an National Science Foundation (NSF) grant and was planning on beginning the full renovation of its facilities and curriculum when Lilly was evaluating the region. As Gelinas put it, “We weren't doing this reactively. We've been working to strategically attract pharmaceutical and life science companies for years.”

Gelinas also highlights a deeper ecosystem of workforce pathways, including the Industrial Training and Education Consortium, a manufacturing-led apprenticeship nonprofit that has developed five state-approved apprenticeship tracks. Programs in chemistry lab technology, mechatronics, maintenance technology, and quality control are directly applicable to pharmaceutical manufacturing roles. These programs are aiming to supply Lilly's operation with the more than 850 workers the company is expected to bring to the region.

Articles

Eli Lilly’s $3.5 billion decision to build a new injectable medicines facility in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley was driven by a mature, prebuilt workforce and training ecosystem. The region combines a strong manufacturing base (16% of gross regional product) with dense higher-education capacity, including multiple universities, community colleges, and technical schools. A preexisting Lehigh Carbon Community College–Wake Tech partnership, supported by an NSF grant and proactive facility/curriculum modernization, signaled readiness. Apprenticeship pathways and aligned technical programs are positioned to staff over 850 anticipated roles.