NJEDA Board Approves MOU to Purchase Land in Downtown Trenton for Future Maternal and Infant Health and Innovation Center

Anchored in downtown Trenton, MIHIC will work to eliminate racial disparities in health equity, offer groundbreaking training programs for the perinatal workforce & provide critical health services and career pathways for local residents

TRENTON, N.J. (May 8, 2024) - The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board today approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Trenton Board of Education (BOE) and the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (NJSDA) to purchase property in downtown Trenton as the future home of the Maternal and Infant Health and Innovation Center (MIHIC). This is a critical step in establishing the Center, which is a central component to First Lady Tammy Murphy's Nurture NJ initiative. The Center will serve as a hub for stakeholders committed to eliminating racial disparities and advancing maternal and infant health equity in the state.

Last month, the NJEDA Board approved Capital Health, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and Trenton Health Team to serve as the Center's anchor tenants, where they will work collaboratively to provide services to address issues related to maternal and infant health in Trenton and across New Jersey.

The MIHIC is being developed by the NJEDA, in partnership with First Lady Tammy Murphy, and the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority (MIHIA), which will oversee day-to-day operations of the Center.

"From its conception, this Center has been imagined as a fully three-dimensional approach to addressing our incredibly complex maternal and infant health crisis, and I am truly heartened to see this vision becoming reality," said First Lady Murphy. "The Maternal and Infant Health and Innovation Center will provide critical maternal health services to the mothers of the Trenton community, serve as a hub for research and innovation, and create career pathways and training opportunities for Trenton students. Further, building this Center at the Battle Monument Site which is an easily accessible location for our community partners reaffirms our commitment to centering the residents of Trenton first and foremost. This is an exciting next step in the development of the Center, and I look forward to continuing our work together with our partners as we bring high quality services to Trenton."

The MOU will allow for the NJEDA to purchase land next to the historic Battle Monument site, located at the southwest corner of Pennington Avenue and Warren Street in Trenton, which is currently owned by the BOE. The site in the North Trenton - Battle Monument neighborhood was identified through community engagement efforts and was prioritized due to its easy accessibility for community residents, safety, and close proximity to community resources such as Henry J. Austin Health Center and Greater Mount Zion AME Church.

Additionally, the NJEDA will work in collaboration with the BOE and Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, the Lead Institution of Higher Education within the Center, to establish career pathways and training opportunities for public school students in Trenton. Rutgers will provide a variety of services, including accredited degree programs, certification programs, non-degree programs, on-the-job training opportunities, student support services, and maternal and infant health research.

"Maternal and infant health equity is at the forefront of Governor and First Lady Murphy's priorities, and the City of Trenton has been actively engaged in establishing the Maternal and Infant Health and Innovation Center from its inception," said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. "Today has been a major step forward, and our engagement with the Trenton BOE and Rutgers University to establish education and training opportunities will help prepare students for highly skilled, good-paying jobs at the Center. The MIHIC will help uplift the Trenton community by expanding access to quality health care services and generating ancillary economic activity."

"Part of what makes the MIHIC so special is how we engaged with the community from day one. We had the opportunity to hear what they wanted to see in this Center, and where they wanted it to be located," said Lisa Asare, President and CEO of the MIHIA. "By placing the Center in a central, accessible area, we are creating a true community health hub, where expectant parents and infants can receive the quality care that they deserve."

"The Trenton Board of Education is excited to partner with the NJEDA on this opportunity for Trenton residents," said James Earle, superintendent of the Trenton Public School District. "The Maternal and Infant Health and Innovation Center (MIHIC) will provide expecting mothers with high-quality care in an accessible location within the City of Trenton and support mothers and children prior to birth. We look forward to seeing this project come to life and the impacts it will have on our future families for years to come."

"Locating the new Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in downtown Trenton makes good on our commitment to improving health equity for mothers and babies in our capital city and beyond," said Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer/Hunterdon). "The MIHIC will be a transformative resource for the city, bringing comprehensive health care services, educational opportunities, and jobs to a historically underserved area. I am incredibly proud that Trenton will serve as the anchor in this mission and look forward to seeing the center's positive impact on the community take fold."

"I wholeheartedly applaud the action taken by the NJEDA Board today, which will have enormous benefits for the residents of Trenton, as well as expectant and new moms around the region," said Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Mercer Hunterdon). "The location selected for the future home of the MIHIC is easily accessible for women seeking pre- and post-natal care. At the same time, the collaboration between Rutgers, the Trenton Board of Education and the NJEDA to provide Trenton public school students with services such as accredited degree programs and training opportunities will set these young people up for success in the near and distant future."

"I couldn't be more excited about the news of collaboration between New Jersey Economic Development Authority, School Development Authority and Trenton Board of Education. These types of partnerships are critical to the continued revitalization of our Capital Region," said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.

"The City fully supports this initiative as it will provide access to much-needed resources in our underserved communities," said Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. "We are grateful to the Murphy Administration, and particularly First Lady Tammy Murphy, for bringing this project to the Capital City.

About the NJEDA

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State's principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey's long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses, call NJEDA Customer Care at 844-965-1125 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn

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