Goochland eyes high school-to-Eli Lilly jobs pipeline
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Goochland County Administration Jeremy Raley (left) chatting with Sabrina at Axios' event about Virginia's biopharma future. Photo: Jen Danson for Axios
Goochland students could one day graduate from high school and head straight into jobs at Eli Lilly's new $5 billion pharmaceutical plant.
Why it matters: As Virginia works to turn billions in pharmaceutical investments into jobs for residents, Goochland wants local students to have a shot at the 650 permanent positions Lilly plans to create.
State of play: Goochland County Administrator Jeremy Raley told Axios in a sit-down interview Thursday that officials have discussed creating direct hiring pathways with Lilly and local K-12 partners.
- Lilly has expressed support for the idea, Raley said, though specific classes and hiring commitments remain unclear.
- A company spokesperson didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for confirmation, but Lilly has pledged to develop local career pathways with schools.
Catch up quick: Lilly broke ground on the Goochland facility last month, where it plans to hire engineers, scientists, operations workers and lab technicians, per a release.
- It's also separately committed $40 million toward a workforce training initiative, including a Goochland training center planned for 2028 — ahead of the plant's operations beginning in 2030.
The intrigue: Raley envisions introducing students to pharmaceutical and advanced manufacturing careers as early as kindergarten.
- Goochland already has an advanced manufacturing, mechatronics and robotics academy and offers job shadowing and apprenticeships with local employers.
- It's also pursuing a $30 million career and technical education expansion, with more than $18 million authorized so far, per Raley.
- A 2025 regional workforce study found that Richmond-area students' access to pharmaceutical manufacturing coursework is largely limited to 11th and 12th graders.
The big picture: Virginia is also building a pipeline of workers for its growing pharmaceutical industry.
- Virginia Economic Development Partnership's workforce chief Megan Healy told Axios the state is expanding community college training for manufacturing operators.
- The state is also helping Lilly recruit and train workers through its Talent Accelerator Program.
- And Virginia wants to adapt its existing GO TEC school-to-career training model — which introduces middle schoolers to technical careers — for biopharma, state Commerce and Trade official Kristen Dahlman told Axios.
What we're watching: Goochland is courting more pharmaceutical manufacturers, hoping to build an industry hub around Lilly, Raley told Axios.
- "My community asks me often, 'Can you get us another Lilly?'" Raley said. "And we say, 'We're trying. We're working hard.'"