News release Jan 6, 2023 / MIDDLESEX COUNTY, NJ – The Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners hosted its annual Reorganization Meeting, with nearly 500 people in attendance, on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at the Performing Arts Center on the Middlesex College campus. County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios, who was selected by his peers to serve another term as its director, shared the Board’s vision for building a brighter future for the County in the coming year, focusing on key areas such as infrastructure, education, and quality of life. For additional event highlights including photos and video, please visit www.middlesexcountynj.gov/Reorg.
The meeting included the swearing-in ceremonies of three County Commissioners and the County Sheriff. Recently reelected County Commissioners Claribel A. Azcona-Barber, Charles Kenny, and Chanelle Scott McCullum, as well as Sheriff Mildred S. Scott all took the oath of office during Thursday’s meeting.
The Reorganization Meeting also offered a chance to reflect on the accomplishments of the past year, much of which County Commissioner Director Rios attributed to the County’s ability to create and foster vital partnerships and its financial strength.
“Over the past year, my colleagues and I have been proud to see our community overcome challenges and fulfill the promise of a brighter future – for our residents, for our businesses, and for our families,” said County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios. “We’ve been able to do this by building public and private partnerships at the local, state, and federal level. These collaborations make a brighter future possible.”
The County’s strong relationships at the State-level were apparent Thursday evening, with resounding support from Governor Phil Murphy and New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin who also addressed the audience with inspiring comments.
“I’m proud to revisit Middlesex College’s flourishing campus to congratulate the County’s reelected Commissioners, who represent the very best of our state’s local leadership,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “With each step forward, it becomes increasingly clearer: Middlesex County priorities and New Jersey priorities are one in the same. From its upgrades to pivotal transit facilities to its transformation of leading educational institutions, the County has served – and will continue to serve – as a microcosm of the stronger, fairer Garden State we are building.”
“Congratulations to Director Rios and Deputy Director Narra on a successful reorganization. Under their leadership, Middlesex County has become a statewide leader in Education, Transportation, and Innovation,” said Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin. “I look forward to another productive year of collaboration with the Board of County Commissioners and congratulate Commissioners Azcona-Barber, Kenny, and Scott McCullum, as well as Sheriff Scott, on their reelection.”
Middlesex County was also honored to receive messages of support from its federal representatives – Senator Cory Booker, Senator Robert Menendez, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr., and Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman – all of whom joined the meeting virtually.
County Commissioner Director Rios also thanked County employees for their hard work and dedication, acknowledging the vital role they play in serving County residents and ensuring the success of all County programs and initiatives.
“Our County employees are the lifeblood of what we do,” said County Commissioner Director Rios, before speaking directly to the many employees who were in the audience: “You are the heart and soul of our operation. My fellow commissioners and I are continually in awe of your commitment to residents and businesses. We, and the entire community, thank you.”
Investing in infrastructure
The Board of County Commissioners continues to build upon the foundation of Destination 2040, the County’s strategic plan for long-term economic success which is spearheaded by the Department of Transportation under the leadership of County Commissioner Kenny.
“Everything we do supports our vision for a brighter future for everyone who lives, works, and plays here in Middlesex County,” said County Commissioner Director Rios. “The County envisions a brighter future that grants better access to innovative spaces and cutting-edge healthcare treatment for those within and around Middlesex County through key investments in transformative community projects.”
Those projects include the County’s role as a core partner in the New Jersey Innovation Hub, which represents a significant investment in the future of innovation in New Jersey. The County will leverage its AAA bond rating to provide the financing mechanism for nearly $500 million in project funds. The Hub will serve as the future command center for DataCity, the County’s living laboratory for autonomous technology.
Additionally, Middlesex County has invested $25 million in the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. This elite facility will transform cancer care through a combination of research, education, and patient care. The Cancer Center will provide world-class cancer treatment for residents right here in the County, while also providing academic and hands-on training opportunities for Middlesex College and Middlesex County Magnet Schools students.
“Both the Hub and the Cancer Center are designed to attract opportunity, business, and talent from throughout the County, the state, and the region,” said County Commissioner Director Rios.
Other key projects include the County’s investments in transportation infrastructure, including the modernization of the New Brunswick Train Station – which will see the 120-year-old station updated with the amenities and technologies needed to support a bustling train station for the future – and the construction of the North Brunswick Train Station, which is nearing the completion of the concept design phase. Both projects are being managed in first-of-their kind partnerships between the Middlesex County Improvement Authority and NJ TRANSIT.
According to County Commissioner Director Rios, these investments in the County’s transportation infrastructure will have multiple benefits for the County and the region.
“These projects will allow for broader access within and beyond our borders, easing commutes on major thoroughfares, attracting new revenue to the region, and allowing those within and beyond our county to better access our recreational facilities like our 19 County parks, our more than 13,000 acres of open space and preserved farmland, and our many performing arts centers,” said County Commissioner Director Rios.
Investing in education
Middlesex County remains committed to building a brighter future through investments in education and career training.
“We envision a future that changes the educational landscape to nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs, inventors, collaborators, and contributors,” said County Commissioner Director Rios. “To do this, we must foster a workforce of the future and nurture a new generation of learners, by making vital investments designed to strengthen and grow our college; our magnet schools; and our pipeline of talented, well-prepared workers who are ready to move into – or advance in – all industries, especially the County’s key business sectors: life sciences, autonomous technology, and food innovation.”
To that end, the Middlesex County Magnet Schools and Middlesex College have undergone a transformation to better align with the County’s distinctive brand strategy and economic growth plans. The Middlesex County Magnet Schools have a new name and visual identity that accurately reflect the district’s evolution and specialized education opportunities, which include skills-based training and rigorous academic coursework.
The County is already seeing a return on its investment in Middlesex College’s new identity, with enrollment up 3 percent in 2022 – far above the state and national average for two-year colleges. This is expected to continue as the County’s Community, Innovation, and Opportunity (CIO) Strategic Investment Plan, which was unveiled in fall 2022, is implemented. The CIO Strategic Investment Plan – through the addition of new academic, athletic, and performing arts facilities – will transform the Middlesex College campus into a space for the entire County community and as a regional attraction.
Investing in quality of life
Under the leadership of the Board of County Commissioners, Middlesex County envisions a brighter future for residents that encompasses more than state-of-the-art facilities and regional attractions. The County will continue to offer and invest in core services and programs geared toward making a better life for the families and individuals who live here.
“Through our investments in talent, infrastructure, and our residents, we are building an even brighter future that is unique only to Middlesex County,” said County Commissioner Director Rios.
These investments include the County’s telehealth and community health programs, which are designed to ensure County residents have the tools they need to access vital healthcare services and education. First introduced in 2021 in direct response to issues brought to light by the COVID-19 pandemic, these initiatives were expanded in 2022.
Additionally, the County has put significant support behind the State’s ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program, to ensure eligible Middlesex County homeowners and renters have access to the program. Middlesex County also continues to provide support to the most vulnerable in the community through the County’s Coming Home and Housing First Funds and remains committed to helping veterans. Since its inception, the County’s Veterans Housing Assistance program has helped hundreds of veterans.
Foremost among Middlesex County’s investments in quality of life in 2023 will be a focus on mental health. This will involve a comprehensive effort across a range of areas such as community services, education, law enforcement, the Arts Institute of Middlesex County, and the George J. Otlowski, Sr. Center for Mental Health.
The County is also working with a professional partner to assess County policies, procedures, and programming in an effort to identify areas of improvement. Currently underway, the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging study is scheduled to conclude in 2023.
