Transformational. That’s how Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry describes Eli Lilly and Co.’s (NYSE: LLY) plans to invest $2.1 billion and create 500 jobs at two new Boone County manufacturing facilities. Gentry says the city has been preparing for growth for five years, but admits there will be challenges.
“We’re currently the fastest growing county in Indiana…and we’ve been trying to lay out the groundwork to prepare for that.” said Gentry, who is in his second term as mayor. “How do we look at our thoroughfare plan, what’s our road infrastructure look like what do we have to do from a utility standpoint, but we also have to figure out how we have the conversation with the neighbors and how we balance the transition from an urban-rural community to part of the Indianapolis metropolitan area.”
Gentry talked about growth and what’s next for Lebanon on this weekend’s edition of Inside INdiana Business with Gerry Dick.
Last month, Lilly provided details on the $2.1 billion investment for two manufacturing facilities to be built at the new LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District site in Boone County. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. says the property will be a strategic location for future growth with its proximity to I-65, Purdue University and Indianapolis.
At the announcement, Lilly Chief Executive Officer Dave Ricks said location was a key factor in choosing Lebanon and Boone County for the investment.
“Increasingly as we’ve built sites, we see a value in this concept of clustering, where not only we can be in closer relation to our own facilities…but also Purdue is a great asset for the state and for Lilly. It’s our number one source of talent,” said Ricks. “And we imagine that this park could really help even expand that partnership with Purdue and I’ll mention Ivy Tech as well, where we’ve worked closely to staff our hourly jobs.”