On Thursday evening, the Huntsville City Council made state history after approving a project development agreement of record-breaking proportions.
According to the City, the council voted in favor of a project development agreement and property transfer to the international pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly and Company. The corporation recently announced plans to invest $6 billion in a Huntsville campus, representing the single largest economic development in Alabama's history. Additionally, the agreement is projected to create 450 high-paying jobs, with the property being located at the northeast corner of Interstate 565 and Greenbrier Parkway.
"The ripple effect of Eli Lilly selecting Huntsville over more than 300 other sites will resonate across north Alabama," Mayor Tommy Battle said. "This project will also create 3,000 construction jobs, and we are looking forward to site work beginning later this year."
David A. Ricks, Lilly chair and CEO, called Huntsville an "ideal location" for growing the company's domestic manufacturing capacity.
"Huntsville's track record of science and innovation, supported by advanced manufacturing expertise and a skilled workforce, makes Alabama an ideal location for Lilly to expand domestic manufacturing capacity for next‑generation medicines," said Ricks. "Today's investment continues the onshoring of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production, strengthening supply chain resilience and reliable access to medicines for patients in the U.S."
The record-breaking project development agreement has even drawn the attention of the White House's rapid-response team.
New @EliLillyandCo facility to bring 450 manufacturing jobs and 3,000 construction jobs to Huntsville, Alabama 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DUMMSLqpJT
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 13, 2026
According to the City, the terms of the development agreement include Eli Lilly constructing a 750,000-square-foot facility with an investment of at least $4.2 billion and hiring at least 449 full-time employees. The average salary of those employees will be $112,700, excluding benefits.
The City also said it is providing a 260-acre site to Eli Lilly under a 10-year performance obligation by the company to maintain its investment and the jobs, as well as $2 million for workforce development, recruitment and training, and up to $250,000 in project costs.
Huntsville is also holding an adjacent 240-acre site for potential expansion.
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