Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly opens Concord campus

Happening today, hundreds of jobs are now ready and available. Eli Lilly and Company officially opened its new manufacturing plant in Concord today, and Channel 9's Eli Brand reports that they will make diabetes and weight loss drugs. A major resource for Concorde with hundreds of high paying jobs opened its door Friday morning. Eli Lilly opened their $2 billion facility where medicines will be made, packaged and shipped around the world. This place isn't just about the building, it's a symbol of hope. Hence, here, science and innovation come together every day. We work driven by our purpose to improve lives worldwide. North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper helped cut the ribbon for the facility, a full circle moment for a project he helped facilitate over two years ago by luring Lilly to Cabarrus County. State will be working with the company to increase access to drugs for all citizens, a big priority after the state dropped coverage for state employees for certain medicines like Ozempic because of their high price. Not only Eli Lilly, but other companies that are making these drugs that are going to end up making people healthier. Clearly there's a cost issue, but we have to find a way forward. The facility will employ 600 people, 70% of them will be from the state of North Carolina, while 60% of them will be from the area directly surrounding the plant itself. We've concentrated on rural areas. The next goal for this facility is to begin making medicine. The plan is for that to start by the end of this year. Reporting in Concord, I'm Eli Brand, Channel 9 Eyewitness News. Again, this plant in Concord will create 600 jobs. Production is scheduled to begin by the end of this year, and they plan to start shipping out medicine in 2025.