Last April, Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) announced a $3.7 billion investment to develop two new manufacturing facilities within Indiana’s LEAP Technology Park in Boone County. These sites will bring 700 jobs to Hoosiers in highly skilled areas, such as production operations, lab support, and engineering.
Lilly has now announced a $10,000 STEM grant award for the Lebanon Community School Corporation, reaffirming its commitment to the project by enhancing educational opportunities for local students.
“We are extremely grateful for the investment Lilly is making in our students and program,” said Dr. Jon Milleman, superintendent of Lebanon Community School Corporation. These funds will provide our students with exciting, hands-on learning activities. STEM education is not just science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM education is about creative problem solving through investigation and collaboration – the skills that will benefit our students no matter their career choices.”
Lilly’s investment in Boone County underscores a shared purpose with local elected officials to improve the state forresidents, communities, and businesses by helping drive additional demand for STEM careers in central Indiana.
“I am thrilled to see Lilly supporting important Boone County initiatives like this one,” said State Sen. Brian Buchanan (R-Lebanon). “Lebanon Community School Corporation’s STEM programming will prepare students for science- and technology-related careers and help them develop vital skills for future success.”
Jennifer Massey, Lilly’s associate vice president for manufacturing, remarked: “This award highlights our commitment to building partnerships and supporting opportunities in Boone County that invest in and increase access to STEM education to help build a diverse and highly skilled future talent pipeline.”
Lilly’s presence within LEAP Innovation Park in Boone County represents the largest manufacturing investment at a single location in the company’s history.