Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has announced that the state is selling the former General Motors stamping plant site near downtown Indianapolis for $27 million to Elanco Animal Health, where the company is currently building a new global headquarters.
Although the land transitions into private ownership, the Governor’s office says the state will continue as an active partner supporting the site’s future development through the Indiana Office of Commerce.
“This agreement is a responsible step forward,” said Gov. Braun in a statement. “It places this property in the hands of a company with a clear vision of a world-class innovation district, while ensuring the State of Indiana remains a full partner in what comes next. This is about more than redeveloping land; it’s about creating jobs, attracting talent, and driving long-term growth for Indiana.”
According to Inside Indiana Business, the state had been seeking “buyers, partners or users” for the site, which includes the $200-million-plus facility that is being built that will serve as the new headquarters for Elanco Animal Health. The building is expected to be open October 1, which will mark the official shift of Elanco’s headquarters from Greenfield to Indianapolis—including the move of more than 725 employees.
In May 2024, Purdue University and Elanco Animal Health announced a partnership to share research facilities at the planned OneHealth Innovation District, which will be located near the Elanco Global Headquarters in downtown Indianapolis. The partnership with Purdue and Elanco also included the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) to “establish a globally recognized research innovation district dedicated to optimizing the health of people, animals, plants and the planet.”
“This is about partnership and progress,” said Jeff Simmons, CEO of Elanco Animal Health. “The State’s willingness to work with us—not as a landowner but as a partner—makes this possible. Securing this property now gives us the certainty we need to integrate it into our headquarters campus and move forward with speed. That means jobs, investment, and an accelerated path to creating an innovation district dedicated One Health. In the near-term, we’re excited to join the Valley Neighborhood with our move to our new global headquarters in early October. We see it as the first of many big moments for the District. Together with Purdue and the State of Indiana, we’re building something that will drive innovation and improve lives for decades to come.”
Plans for Elanco to build their new headquarters on the site of the former GM stamping plant just west of the White River and southwest of Lucas Oil Stadium have been in the works for more than three years. In April 2022, Elanco held a ribbon cutting event at the site with then-Gov. Eric Holcomb.
