UGI to Fuel Pennsylvania’s Largest Life Sciences Investment Ever

Growth, production, and jobs. All major impacts of a $3.5 billion manufacturing facility coming to the Lehigh Valley. It is being called the state’s largest life sciences investment, and it will be fueled by UGI.

Eli Lilly and Company has announced plans to build its newest injectable medicine and device manufacturing facility to produce weight-loss therapies in Upper Macungie Township. The facility, expected to be completed by 2031, will be located off Main Street, or Old Route 22, in Fogelsville.

Lilly says the facility will employ 850 permanent workers and generate 2,000 construction jobs during the building process which is set to begin this year.

“We’re creating high quality jobs and collaborating across the region with suppliers, educators, and workforce development partners to make critical medicines in the U.S.,” says Lilly CEO David Ricks. “That’s our commitment to patients, to our new Pennsylvania home, and to our country.”

The Fogelsville location was selected among more than 300 applicants partly because of state incentives, proximity to STEM universities, and convenient access to transportation and utilities.

“This took a dream team of partners at the local, county, regional, and state levels that included UGI,” says Don Cunningham, President and CEO of Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation, which coordinated the region’s proposal. “Gas service is critical to the project, and UGI understands the project’s needs and can deliver the reliable utility infrastructure and gas required to meet a very aggressive production timeline. UGI is an all-star on the Lehigh Valley team.”

UGI’s construction work to deliver natural gas to the facility is expected to begin in early 2027. When the new facility is up and running, it will be among UGI’s largest customers in the Lehigh Valley.

“UGI is committed to providing the energy services needed to fuel growth like this. Our strong, reliable, and safe system will be what delivers natural gas to Lilly to produce life-changing medicine,” says Dan Adamo, UGI’s Vice President of Customer Relations. “We are proud to be able to serve this customer and look forward to opportunities to fuel even more growth throughout our area.”