Spotlight on Middlesex County

On Sep 11, 2024

By Larry Feld, Contributing Writer

A hub for growth with pro-business initiatives and innovative planning, Middlesex County is perfect for entrepreneurs and residents alike.

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The future is looking bright in Middlesex County. Spanning 25 municipalities and more than 300 square miles, Middlesex is home to approximately 862,000 people. With a culturally diverse makeup, potential newcomers have a wide range of landscapes and lifestyles from which to choose; from vibrant cities like New Brunswick (the county seat) to quaint hometowns like Metuchen or Jamesburg.

 The county employs 433,000 people, according to DataUSA. The largest industries include healthcare and social assistance (employing 53,257 people), professional, scientific, and technical services (51,949 people), and educational services (46,850 people). Middlesex also boasts a growing finance and insurance industry, including several major CPA firms.

More than 47 healthcare facilities (clinics and hospitals) are situated within Middlesex County, including RWJBarnabas Health, Saint Peter’s University Hospital, and Hackensack Meridian Health. Of course, higher education is also one of the county’s largest employers, thanks to Rutgers University.

Middlesex County leadership has a pro-business attitude. “The county has done an excellent job of looking at the resources we have to determine what we can do with our existing resources to grow our communities and take things a step up,” notes Lina Llona, president of the Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce. 

Creating transformative projects requires significant long-term planning. In 2022, county leadership finalized its Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan, which is designed to transform and bolster Middlesex College and the magnet school system. 

Highlights of the CIO plan include an open-air multipurpose community venue for concerts, cultural events, and multiple sports; a workforce development & conference center; a new community park; a new student center for the college; and the creation of a new Middlesex County magnet school. In addition, the plan includes the creation of a destination athletic complex featuring 14 multi-sport synthetic fields, 16 tennis courts, and a recreational cricket field. 

“The CIO plan isn’t merely an aspiration or a ‘hope’ of ours, it’s a reality,” notes Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “For all of us who call Middlesex County home, the CIO strategy will be a game-changer in our economy and the quality of our lives – this includes improving the lives of students, faculty, and staff who work at and attend Middlesex College.”

Saint Peter’s University Hospital 

In late June, Saint Peter’s Healthcare System and Atlantic Health System announced the signing of a definitive agreement to expand their strategic partnership, pending approvals necessary from federal, state, and church leadership. Saint Peter’s will join the Atlantic Health System. Most importantly, the hospital will continue to maintain its Catholic mission.

“Saint Peter’s has a lot of positive things going on,” notes Leslie D. Hirsch, FACHE, president and CEO of the healthcare system, adding that the hospital is in the strongest financial position it has ever been. “Our industry has gone through dramatic changes and consolidations. We are in a marketplace where two of the largest health systems in the state dominate the geography. As one of the last single-hospital health systems, we realize we don’t have the scale to compete long-term. To preserve our mission, we needed to broaden our scale and footprint. As a result, we decided Atlantic Health will be a great partner for us,” he relates.

In the meantime, Saint Peter’s continues to make significant investments in infrastructure and patient services. For example, plans are underway for a $25 million modernization of the adult intensive care unit, while a $10 million grant from the state will help fund the expansion of the pediatric intensive care unit from 4,000 square feet to 12,500 square feet.

In addition, a recently completed $12 million upgrade and expansion of the Saint Peter’s Family Health Center on How Lane is expanding the hospital’s ability to serve the needs of underserved Hispanic/Latino residents. With patient visits climbing from 60,000 to 70,000 this year, Hirsch expects the center will reach its goal of 100,000 visits quickly. Besides doubling the exam room spaces and modernizing systems, the facility is also working collaboratively with government and non-profit organizations to create expanded services for children, adults, and women’s healthcare – and even opening the Market at Saint Peter’s, a food market – as well as offering job training initiatives. 

HELIX NJ Update

In New Brunswick, construction cranes dot the skyline, diligently lifting steel beams for the Health and Life Science Exchange, NJ, (HELIX NJ), a 1.4-million-square foot, three-building complex that will host an innovation district. The first building, dubbed H1, is scheduled for completion in 2025. It will serve as home to Rutgers Medical School as well as the New Jersey Innovation Hub, a hybrid of incubator and co-working space. 

In December of 2023, Nokia announced intentions to relocate Bell Labs from its current Murray Hill home to the planned H2 building, creating a state-of-the-art 300,000-square-foot research and development facility. The new facility, which will break ground in 2025, will be developed by SJP Properties with community support provided by New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO), the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), and the City of New Brunswick. 

“Our Murray Hill campus has been home to iconic Nokia Bell Labs innovation for over 80 years,” notes Nishant Batra, chief strategy and technology officer at Nokia. “As we look toward the future of Nokia and Nokia Bell Labs, we will take with us all that makes us exceptional. Ultimately, we want a facility that feels right for the next 100 years.”

A Tree Grows in Metuchen

In Metuchen, a former electronics factory has undergone a nearly $10 million environmental cleanup in anticipation of a major transformation. According to Metuchen Mayor Jonathan Busch, the project, to be called The Kempson, “will be an environmentally-friendly upscale apartment community that honors the historic heritage of the site. It will include the largest park in the borough, a 32-acre section of the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve,” he says. 

Planned improvements include creating a network of trails, hiker/biker paths, and open space for public enjoyment, as well as parking facilities for a new county nature preserve. The project is adjacent to the planned expansion of the Middlesex County Greenway linear park.

The development is a welcome addition to a good community that has endured some economic setbacks stemming from the pandemic, according to MCCC’s Llona. “The town lost 20 businesses in the downtown district during COVID. This is going to make a huge positive impact on the town,” she predicts.

Baltimore-based Klein Enterprises is developing the multifamily apartment community on a 20-acre portion of the site at 212 Durham Avenue. A total of 272 Class A studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units, 15% of which will meet state affordable housing requirements, as well as six unique one-bedroom live/work homes, are anticipated to be completed by the Fall of 2025. 

The project will employ a creative 30-year PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement, which jointly benefits both the developer and the borough by tying tax obligations to project revenue while providing the borough with the flexibility to invest revenue back into the borough. As a result, Metuchen will be receiving $20 million over the next few decades for investment in essential infrastructure.

“This is an example of a public-private partnership that will be a true benefit to our community,” Mayor Busch says.

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