Middlesex County has been recognized for two major development projects tied to its long-term strategic investment plan.
The awards were presented March 24 at the 15th Annual New Jersey’s Leading Capital Construction Projects Awards Program, hosted by the New Jersey Alliance for Action, honoring the county’s Innovation Magnet School and Multipurpose Community Venue and Student Center projects.
The recognition highlights key components of the county’s Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan, a multi-year initiative aimed at expanding education, enhancing community amenities and driving economic growth.
“These projects represent the future we are building in Middlesex County — one rooted in innovation, access, and opportunity for every resident,” Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios said in a statement.
“Through our CIO Strategic Investment Plan, we are making bold, strategic investments that strengthen our education pipeline, create vibrant community spaces, and position our County as a leader in economic development across New Jersey,” Rios said.
The Innovation Magnet School and the multipurpose venue and student center are both being developed on the campus of Middlesex College, forming the centerpiece of the broader CIO plan.
The multipurpose venue will also serve as the future home of Rutgers University’s baseball team, according to the New Jersey Alliance for Action.
“Middlesex has vaulted to second in population among our state’s 21 counties,” Alliance for Action President Jerry Keenan said in a statement.
“It’s some 900,000 residents are well served by the two projects the Alliance for Action is honoring at our annual New Jersey Leading Capital Construction Projects Awards,” Keenan said. “The Innovation Magnet School and Multipurpose Community Venue and Student Center are both part of the County’s critical strategic investment plan.”
County officials said the CIO Strategic Investment Plan, first introduced in November 2022, is designed to position Middlesex College as a regional hub for education, workforce development, recreation and the arts.
“The recognition of these projects underscores our commitment to creating spaces that serve multiple generations and multiple purposes,” Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum, chair of the Economic Development Committee, said in a statement.
“From advancing workforce development to expanding access to recreation and the arts, these investments are designed to meet the evolving needs of our residents while driving inclusive growth across the region,” McCullum said.
Several major projects are already underway as part of the initiative.
Construction began in January 2025 on both the multipurpose community venue and the Middlesex College student center, while the Innovation Magnet School broke ground in March 2025.
Additional development includes a destination athletic complex at Thomas A. Edison Park, featuring 14 synthetic multi-sport fields, 16 tennis courts and a recreational cricket field.
Future phases of the plan call for a workforce development and conference center, a community park with an educational children’s component, and enhancements to outdoor public spaces, including public art, seating and water features.
County officials said the broader goal of the CIO plan is to strengthen economic development while improving quality of life and expanding opportunities for residents and businesses.
More information about the initiative is available at middlesexcountynj.gov/cioplan.
Middlesex Principal Engineer Salvatore Manetto (left), County Commissioner Charles Kenny, County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios and County Department Head of Transportation Department Khalid Anjum. ,
