Made in USA News, Oct. 21–23, 2026: Lilly's $5 Billion Virginia Plant, Carrier's Texas Expansion and 3,400+ Jobs
Five U.S. manufacturing announcements from Oct. 21–23, 2026: Eli Lilly, Carrier, Corning, Bombardier and Niagara Bottling add $6.6 billion and 3,400+ jobs or hires.
Key takeaways
- Five announcements made between October 21 and 23, 2026 add up to about $6.6 billion in stated U.S. manufacturing investment and more than 3,400 jobs or hires.
- Eli Lilly broke ground on a $5 billion medicine plant in Goochland County, Virginia, near Richmond, with 650 jobs planned.
- Carrier will invest more than $600 million over three years in a 1-million-square-foot-plus chiller manufacturing and engineering center in Fort Worth, Texas, with 1,500 jobs.
- Corning is expanding its Wilmington, North Carolina, optical fiber plant ($585 million, 414 jobs). Bombardier says it's hiring 800 people in the U.S., and Niagara Bottling opened a $141 million plant in Kentucky.
American manufacturing had a busy middle of the week. Between Wednesday, October 21 and Friday, October 23, 2026, five companies announced or opened U.S. factory projects worth about $6.6 billion combined, from medicines in Virginia to commercial chillers in Texas and optical fiber in North Carolina. Every figure below comes from the company's or a state agency's own announcement, linked with its publication date.
Which factory investments were announced this week?
U.S. manufacturing investment announced, Oct. 21–23, 2026
Millions of U.S. dollars, as stated in each announcement
Carrier's figure is "more than $600 million" over three years. Bombardier's is the approximate first phase of U.S. infrastructure investment.
Source: Eli Lilly · Carrier · Wilmington Business Development · Bombardier · Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development
View the data
| Company | Investment ($ millions) |
|---|---|
| Eli Lilly (VA) | $5,000 |
| Carrier (TX) | $600 |
| Corning (NC) | $585 |
| Bombardier (KS, TX, IN, CT) | $270 |
| Niagara Bottling (KY) | $141 |
Eli Lilly's Virginia plant is by far the largest project, at $5 billion. The other four range from $141 million to more than $600 million. Together they reach five states directly, plus Kansas, Indiana and Connecticut through Bombardier's hiring plans.
Why is Eli Lilly building a $5 billion plant in Virginia?
Eli Lilly and Company, October 22, 2026. Lilly broke ground on October 22 on a $5 billion manufacturing site in Goochland County, near Richmond, Virginia. The site will make antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), targeted medicines that pair an antibody with a drug payload.
What's notable, according to Lilly:
- It will be Lilly's first site to integrate active pharmaceutical ingredient production and finished medicines in one place.
- The company expects 650 permanent jobs and about 1,800 construction jobs.
- It is one of 10 U.S. sites Lilly has announced since 2020, part of a U.S. manufacturing push of more than $50 billion.
- Lilly is also committing $40 million to the Virginia Center for Advanced Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, with a training center targeted for 2028, and the site is designed to reach LEED Gold.
Browse other products made in Virginia.
What is Carrier building in Fort Worth, Texas?
Carrier Global Corporation, October 22, 2026. Carrier said it will invest more than $600 million over three years in a new advanced manufacturing and engineering center at AllianceTexas in Fort Worth. The facility will cover more than 1 million square feet and is expected to create 1,500 jobs.
The plant will build air- and water-cooled commercial chillers, the large cooling systems used by data centers, health care facilities, schools and industrial sites. Carrier expects operations to start in 2027 and is designing the building to LEED standards. Data centers are listed first among the markets Carrier named for these chillers.
More from the Lone Star State: made in Texas.
How big is Corning's Wilmington expansion?
Wilmington Business Development, October 21, 2026; Spectrum News 1, October 23, 2026. Corning is investing $585 million to expand its optical fiber plant in Wilmington, North Carolina. The project is expected to add 414 jobs over five years, with an average salary above $85,000, and hiring is expected to begin in 2027.
Optical fiber carries internet and data center traffic, so this is another project tied to the build-out of digital infrastructure. Corning also makes cover glass for iPhones in Kentucky, which we covered in last week's roundup. See products made in North Carolina.
How many people is Bombardier hiring in the U.S.?
Bombardier via GlobeNewswire, October 23, 2026. Business-jet maker Bombardier said it is hiring 800 people in the U.S., about 500 for open positions and about 300 in new roles. It's spending about $270 million on a first phase of U.S. infrastructure across Kansas, Texas, Indiana and Connecticut, including its Wichita operations.
A roughly 64,500-square-foot service center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, is set to open in November. Bombardier also said its 2025 U.S. activities supported 27,200 jobs and $2.8 billion in spending with U.S. suppliers.
What opened in Kentucky this week?
Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, October 22, 2026. Niagara Bottling held a grand opening on October 22 for its first Kentucky plant, at the C5 Airport East Logistics Center in Elsmere, Kenton County. The 436,000-plus-square-foot facility cost $141 million, more than $11 million above the original estimate when the project was announced in September 2024, and employs 60 people.
Niagara Bottling was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Diamond Bar, California. Explore made in Kentucky.
How many jobs do these projects add up to?
Jobs or hires announced, Oct. 21–23, 2026
Number of positions, as stated in each announcement
Bombardier's 800 includes about 500 open positions and about 300 new roles. Lilly also expects about 1,800 construction jobs, which aren't counted here.
Source: Company and state announcements listed under Sources
View the data
| Company | Jobs or hires |
|---|---|
| Carrier (TX) | 1,500 |
| Bombardier (U.S. sites), hires | 800 |
| Eli Lilly (VA) | 650 |
| Corning (NC) | 414 |
| Niagara Bottling (KY) | 60 |
Added together, the five announcements describe 3,424 jobs or hires. That's a rough total: Bombardier's number includes positions already open, and big projects usually hire in phases over several years. Lilly's construction jobs are temporary and are left out.
What else happened in manufacturing policy?
Manufacturing Dive, October 22, 2026. The Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility Act was signed into law on October 20, Manufacturing Dive reported. As its name suggests, it focuses on studying the feasibility of making critical infrastructure products in the U.S. The same report also covered recent investments by Lilly and BAE Systems.
How can you support American factories as a shopper?
Big plant announcements are one part of the story. Everyday purchases are another. Here are a few products from states in this week's news:
Virginia Diner peanuts are a Virginia classic, Igloo coolers are made in Texas, and Ale-8-One is a Kentucky-made ginger soda. Browse the full Made in USA directory or read how to verify a "Made in USA" claim.
Sources
- Lilly breaks ground in Richmond to expand American manufacturing of next-generation medicinesEli Lilly and Company, October 22, 2026
- Carrier to Invest More Than $600 Million to Expand Advanced U.S. Manufacturing and Engineering CapacityCarrier Global Corporation, October 22, 2026
- Corning expansion brings $585 million investment to Wilmington fiber plantWilmington Business Development, October 21, 2026
- Corning's Wilmington expansion to bring hundreds of jobsSpectrum News 1, October 23, 2026
- Bombardier Expanding in America, Creating Thousands of Jobs Combined Within its Network and Throughout the Supply ChainBombardier via GlobeNewswire, October 23, 2026
- Niagara Bottling celebrates grand opening of Kenton County facilityKentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, October 22, 2026
- Trump signs Critical Infrastructure Manufacturing Feasibility ActManufacturing Dive, October 22, 2026
