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Goochland board approves performance agreement to support Eli Lilly West Creek plant, rebating up to $45.9 million
Summary
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a performance agreement with Eli Lilly to support a proposed $5 billion West Creek manufacturing facility. The agreement rebates up to $45,864,691 over 20 years from incremental tax revenue and includes county staffing and infrastructure commitments.
The Goochland County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Dec. 2 to approve a performance agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to support the proposed West Creek manufacturing site in Goochland.
Sarah Worley, deputy county administrator for economic and community development, told the board the project is large in scale and scope: "In September, Governor Glenn Youngkin and Eli Lilly announced a $5,000,000,000 investment in West Creek in Goochland County," she said, and the facility is expected to bring more than 650 permanent jobs and roughly 1,800 construction jobs over buildout.
The performance agreement specifies county incentives tied to new tax revenue from the project. Worley said the county will rebate up to $45,864,691 over 20 years from incremental real estate and business personal property taxes generated by the Lilly investment; the county retains a defined share of base taxes to pay down Tuckahoe Creek Service District (TCSD) debt. The agreement also includes commitments for a dedicated county building inspector, a third-party environmental inspection program, a dedicated project manager, and an expanded career and technical education (CTE) commitment for local schools.
Worley said the county and the Economic Development Authority performed return-on-investment calculations before advancing the terms and that state participation includes workforce support, expedited permitting and additional financial incentives. She told the board the state has offered a workforce program and expedited permitting assistance and that state incentives could include funds to stand up targeted training programs.
Supervisor [mover] made the motion to approve the contract, which was seconded and adopted by roll call with all members voting in favor.
The agreement is structured so rebates continue until either the $45.86 million cap is reached or 20 years elapse, whichever occurs first. Worley said the county forecasts the project will produce substantial annual revenue and long-term local economic activity driven by the facility's operations and supplier network.
Next steps include finalizing any outstanding paperwork referenced in the agreement and continuing coordination with the Economic Development Authority and state partners on workforce and permitting support.
