Biotech boom From the cover
What you need to know
The overview
Lilly, which produces medicines such as Moun- jaro, Zepbound and Ebglyss, will focus the new facility on manufacturing small molecule medi- cines. According to the news release, the products manufactured will be used in elds including cardiometabolic health, oncology, immunology and neuroscience. The site at Generation Park will manufacture Orforglipron, an investigational, once-daily oral GLP-1 medication being studied for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and obesity, which the company expects to submit to global regulatory agencies for obesity by the end of this year, per the release. “It will help for tens of millions of people around the world with chronic conditions caused by obesity,” Ricks said. The 236-acre site will include machine learning, articial intelligence and digitally integrated systems. Site head for Lilly Houston, Diane Ten- nenhouse, said the site is not a direct replication of any of the company’s other facilities. “This is built for the future,” Tennenhouse said at the conference. “We’re actively seeking folks with a safety-rst mindset, dedicated to quality.”
Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company—or Lilly—announced its plans to build a $6.5 billion manufacturing facility at Generation Park at a news conference Sept. 23. Lilly ocials said the site will bring 615 jobs to the area, including positions for engineers, scientists and lab technicians. Generation Park, a 4,300-acre master- planned community in northeast Houston, was selected through an application process based on criteria including workforce potential, local incentives, access to utilities and transportation, and a favorable business environment. Lilly ocials also said they expect to create 4,000 construction jobs in the area as the site build takes o. “I think our site will change the face of the northeast side of Houston ... but [Lilly] will also change lives of families of people who come work for us. These are high-quality jobs, high-paying jobs,” David Ricks, Eli Lilly and Company chair and CEO, said at the conference. For every dollar Lilly spends in the area, the company estimates up to an additional $4 in local economic stimulation, Lilly ocials said in a Sept. 23 news release. The release also states that for every job created in manufacturing, several more will be created in related sectors such as supply chain, logistics and retail. “Texas is stepping up to ensure that we do our part and expand biomedical manufacturing right here in our great state,” Gov. Greg Abbott said at the conference.
Generation Park life sciences
LAKE HOUSTON
W. LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
3
Generation Park
1
2
W
4
LAKE HOUSTON PKWY.
LOCKWOOD DR.
N
1 BioHub Two Project: A 60-acre master-planned
biomanufacturing campus with room for over 1 million square feet of for-sale and built-to-suit biomanufacturing, lab and oce space 2 Eli Lilly and Company Project: A pharmaceutical manufacturing facility that will focus on manufacturing small molecule medicines for areas including cardiometabolic health, oncology, immunology and neuroscience 3 San Jacinto College Center for Biotechnology Project: A hands-on training facility containing a pilot-scale bioprocessing plant where students will gain real-world experience using the same tools found in commercial facilities 4 United Therapeutics Project: A biotechnology facility that focuses on the research, development and commercialization of treatments for rare and life-threatening diseases
Eli Lilly and Company projected economic impact
$5.9 billion estimated capital investment $233.2 million generated annually by 2031 $10.36 billion generated for the full 41- year period
SOURCES: IMPACT DATASOURCE LLC, TEXAS COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCES: MCCORD DEVELOPMENT, UNITED THERAPEUTICS, ELI LILLY AND COMPANY, SAN JACINTO COLLEGE¡COMMUNITY IMPACT
Some context
Top emerging U.S. cities for life sciences Number of life sciences employees (March 2025)
Lilly’s new facility is coming as McCord Develop- ment ocials continue their push to brand Genera- tion Park as a premier life sciences hub in Houston, according to previous reporting by Community Impact . In 2023, McCord unveiled its plans for its 60-acre master-planned biomanufacturing campus, dubbed BioHub Two. According to a March 2025 Cushman & Wakeeld life sciences report, the Houston market currently ranks No. 14 nationwide for total employment in life sciences.
Additionally, the report projects the Houston area’s life sciences employment rate to grow by 76.5% over the next 10 years. Owen Rock, executive vice president of economic development for Partnership Lake Houston, an area chamber of commerce and economic development rm, said he believes Lilly’s new facility will jump- start Generation Park’s vision as a life sciences hub in the Houston metro. “It brings major investment from a global player, hundreds of high-wage jobs and attracts more biotech companies,” Rock said.
Houston 27,500 Austin 21,000 Indianapolis 17,500 Dallas/Fort Worth 13,400
Salt Lake City 11,800
16
COMMUNITYIMPACT.COM
Powered by FlippingBook