Middlesex County announces the Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan to transform Middlesex College into a leading destination in New Jersey
Middlesex County announces the Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan to transform Middlesex College into a leading destination in New Jersey
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – As part of Middlesex County’s Destination 2040 Strategic Plan, the County, in partnership with the State of New Jersey, has finalized its Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan. The plan is designed to transform and bolster Middlesex College and the Magnet School System, as well as meet the diverse needs of the entire community. Announced officially to the public today, in a press conference held at the Middlesex College, County leadership along with key state and local government and school district officials spoke about the long-term economic impact this new plan will have and how it will transform the region.
Highlights of the Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan include:
- an open-air Multipurpose Community Venue for concerts, cultural events, and multiple sports such as baseball, soccer, or lacrosse
- a Workforce Development & Conference Center
- a new Community Park featuring an educational children’s amenity
- a new Student Center which will include campus and community amenities
- a new Middlesex County Magnet School, the Middlesex County Magnet School of the Future
- a Destination Athletic Complex featuring 14 multi-sport synthetic fields;16 tennis courts and a state-of-the-art recreational cricket field; and much more
- an expansion of the existing exterior spaces, activating these areas by adding public art, seating, and water features
Dignitaries shared the significance of these investments in education and infrastructure in Middlesex County and the positive impact they will have on its students, staff, parents, and the region. Today’s program included Governor Phil D. Murphy; New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin; Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios; Edison Mayor Sam Joshi; Middlesex College President Mark McCormick; Superintendent of Schools Jorge E. Diaz; Middlesex County Administrator John A. Pulomena; and Middlesex College Alumni Trustee Anvay Patel.
“We are excited to get this significant project off the ground – and we’ll be working closely with President McCormick and the Board of Trustees at Middlesex College, as well as the Middlesex County Magnet Schools, and the Middlesex County Improvement Authority, to move a number of these initiatives forward today. From cultural to world-class recreational opportunities, from athletic to scholastic, this plan will improve the lives of so many in our community,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “This project is an unprecedented opportunity not only to cement Middlesex College’s place as one of the best two-year colleges in America by not only expanding the educational offerings of both the College and the Magnet School System, but to turn the campus into a multi-faceted destination for the community here in Middlesex County and this entire region. The Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan will drastically transform the outdoor activities available to families and individuals across both Middlesex County and the State of New Jersey.”
“Middlesex County has long epitomized the best our state has to offer: economic opportunity, family-oriented communities, and schools that prepare our children to reach their full potential not just as students, but as community members and future leaders,” said New Jersey Governor Phil D. Murphy. “The Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan announced today will further promote educational opportunities, community engagement, and the arts among Middlesex College students and residents of all ages. Together, these improvements will further solidify Middlesex College as a crucial anchor in a community that will continue to grow and flourish for generations to come.”
“A continuation of the transformative projects that have taken shape in Middlesex County to boost our regional competitiveness, this strategic investment plan is another feather in the cap of our visionary county leadership,” said New Jersey General Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “By expanding educational opportunities that inspire innovation and entrepreneurship, and providing greater access to the arts and to athletics, this project will enhance people’s quality of life now and into their futures, transforming New Jersey for the better over the decades to come.”
“We are moving Edison forward with the help of our County and State partnerships. Our Township is so thankful to the Governor’s Office and Middlesex County for investing in the future of our community,” said Edison Mayor Sam Joshi. “The cricket pitch, in particular, is an extraordinary development for Edison residents, who have been hoping for an official place to play cricket for decades.”
“Middlesex College is truly the heart of Middlesex County. With this extraordinary and transformative investment by the State and Middlesex County on and near our campus, Middlesex College can do even more to lean into and live up to its mission of providing access to a quality, affordable education for a diverse population, supporting student success for lifelong learning, and strengthening the economic, social, and cultural life of the community,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick. “On behalf of the faculty and staff and especially the students of Middlesex College, I want to thank Governor Murphy, Speaker Coughlin and the New Jersey legislature, and the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, led by Commissioner Director Rios for their vision and focus on investing in the greater Middlesex County community,”
“In keeping with our shared mission, the Middlesex College campus is already home to one of our County Magnet Schools – the Edison Academy Magnet School – and now it will be home to a second – the Middlesex County Magnet School of the Future. With programs like environmental technology and engineering, information communication, and global logistics, the School of the Future will leverage its location at the Middlesex College campus to provide an education that is advanced both academically and practically, giving students access to college-level courses as well as the latest tools and technologies,” said Superintendent of the Middlesex County Magnet Schools Jorge E. Diaz. “In the future, our students will be able to graduate with a High School diploma and a two-year College degree. This will be game-changing for our student community. We have much work ahead of us, but I am confident that with the support of our valued partners and the community, this project will be an unparalleled success.”
“Our strategic vision for this County has been nothing short of trailblazing, it’s always been future-forward and far-reaching. Today our goals and aspirations are converging in one location and simultaneously, for the benefit of our entire community. In my 14-year career at the County, I have never experienced a time quite like this before,” said Middlesex County Administrator John A. Pulomena. “I look forward to the dramatic and positive impact that this plan will have in our community, at our educational institutions, and this entire region – as we lead together.”
“As a Trustee, I am excited by the bold new directions with which Dr. McCormick and the Board are leading our college and grateful to the Governor, State Legislature, and the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners for their tremendous support of Middlesex College and the students we serve,” said Middlesex College Alumni Trustee Anvay Patel. “I am honored to be present on such an auspicious occasion. And I would like to especially take the opportunity to express gratitude on behalf of college community to everyone for their vision and commitment for the new student center.”
Consistent with the principles of Destination 2040, the CIO Strategic Investment Plan will not just guide the growth of Middlesex College over the next decade, but it will enhance life quality and drive economic development for all of Middlesex County.
###
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ
Middlesex County is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies, three universities, 19 park systems, and world-class healthcare and research facilities making it one of the nation’s most dynamic regions and a leader in technology, transportation, the arts, and food innovation. As one of the most diverse populations in the country, Middlesex County is home to over 860,000 residents living throughout 25 municipalities. The County’s award-winning Middlesex County Magnet Schools system and two-year Middlesex College uphold its position as #1 in the state for best schools, offering secondary and postsecondary education and workforce development programs that create a unique ecosystem in which opportunities abound. Conveniently located between New York and Philadelphia, Middlesex County is a leading destination for businesses and residents alike to live, work, and play – and has been since the 17th century. For more information, visit middlesexcountynj.gov and find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
