In a milestone moment for Tammy Murphy’s effort to improve maternal health in the state, the first lady was joined by the governor and representatives from the N.J. Economic Development Authority and the N.J. Maternal and Infant Health Authority to break ground on the first-of-its-kind Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton.
The MIHIC aims to serve as the epicenter for advancing equitable maternal and infant health care across Trenton and the nation.
As a beacon of hope and innovation, it will lead efforts to deliver excellence in perinatal and family care, cultivate a diverse and skilled workforce, conduct cutting-edge policy research, provide integrated wraparound supports and operate a robust data collaborative to better serve families across the state, supporters said.
Located in the heart of Trenton at the southwest corner of Pennington Avenue and Warren Street, the MIHIC is the cornerstone of Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative. It will anchor bold efforts to eliminate racial disparities in care and improve outcomes for mothers and babies. The EDA, working closely with Murphy and MIHIA, is developing the MIHIC, which will be operated day-to-day by MIHIA. The state has committed $86.7 million in federal and state funding to bring the project to life.
“This is a transformational day for every mother and baby who deserves a safe, healthy, and strong start in life,” Murphy said. “Today, we break ground on the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center – the heartbeat of Nurture NJ. Shaped by the voices of families and rooted in Trenton, this Center will deliver care and collaboration like never before.
“It will save lives, raise standards, and show what’s possible when equity leads. And with the nation’s first Strategic Innovation Center dedicated to maternal and infant health, we’re not waiting for change – we’re creating it right here.”
As a part of the celebration, the EDA announced that its 12th Strategic Innovation Center, which was announced Monday, will have a presence at the MIHIC.
Developed in collaboration with Rowan University and MIHIA, this Trenton-based SIC will focus on driving breakthrough solutions in maternal care equity, digital health, doula support, perinatal mental health, and public benefits access. The SIC will further the state’s national leadership in maternal and infant health innovation, leveraging startups, academic institutions, public agencies, and community voices to advance maternal health equity and inventive medical technologies.
Gov. Phil Murphy applauded the announcement.
“Today’s groundbreaking takes us one step closer to opening the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center, which will serve as a unique and pioneering hub dedicated to creating innovative solutions for the maternal health crisis while tackling health care disparities once and for all,” he said.
“Additionally, through the newly announced Strategic Innovation Center and the three lead anchor tenants, this center will offer essential maternal and infant health care services to the residents of Trenton and New Jersey, and serve as a research and innovation hub to reshape maternal health locally and statewide, while setting an example for the entire nation. The work of the Center will have a lasting impact beyond our administration, strengthening the health and development of families and communities.”
The maternal and infant health SIC will include 5,000 square feet of space within the MIHIC. In collaboration with public and private stakeholders, the location will provide first-in-class research and development focused on maternal health care, becoming a catalyst for innovation that improves maternal and infant health outcomes through medical technology. The MIHIC incubator will collaborate closely with other components of the state’s 12th SIC, including Plug and Play’s world-class accelerator for early-stage companies.
Pending approval by its Board, the NJEDA will invest $9.55 million into the SIC, including $5.5 million into a seed and early-stage fund for companies in the accelerator program and those that choose to locate and grow their operations in the state. Garden State Venture Partners, a venture capital firm formed in partnership with Rowan University, will invest $7 million for seed and later-stage investments into participating companies.
“Under Gov. Murphy and First Lady Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has made it a priority to become the safest and most supportive state in the nation to raise a family, with a clear focus on eliminating racial disparities that impact expectant parents and babies,” EDA CEO Tim Sullivan said. “Today’s groundbreaking for the Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center serves as a major milestone for Trenton and communities across the state, bringing us closer to delivering critical services that will improve health outcomes and advance equity for families statewide.
“Through its education and training programs, the MIHIC will also prepare students for highly skilled, good-paying jobs in the perinatal workforce, expanding access to care and helping close longstanding gaps in outcomes for mothers and infants, while driving inclusive economic growth that benefits communities across New Jersey.”
The MIHIC will be powered by three anchor institutions:
Rutgers University: With leadership from the School of Nursing, it will oversee academic training, research, and workforce training in partnership with Mercer County Community College, Stockton University, The College of New Jersey, and Thomas Edison State University. Princeton University will support future research and policy efforts. Additionally, the NJEDA will work in collaboration with the Trenton Board of Education and Rutgers University to establish career pathways and training opportunities for public high school students in Trenton.
Capital Health: It will deliver first-in-class family, OB/GYN and pediatric services, mental and behavioral health care, and doula and lactation consultant support.
The Trenton Health Team: It will address social determinants of health — housing, food security, transportation — with comprehensive case management, wraparound supports, and parenting resources.
Since 2022, the EDA and the John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research at Kean University have led a deep community engagement process to design a Center that reflects the needs of Trenton families. Their input helped shape the MIHIC’s location, services, and structure — ensuring it is a center built by the community, for the community.
Launched by First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2019, Nurture NJ is a statewide initiative committed to addressing our state’s maternal and infant health crisis. Since its inception, Nurture NJ has seen over 70 pieces of maternal and infant health legislation signed by Governor Murphy. The initiative has also developed and implemented groundbreaking programs and policies, such as the first-of-its-kind in the nation Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Authority, which will be the arm of government that continues the vital work of Nurture NJ past the Murphy Administration.
Under First Lady Murphy’s leadership, Nurture NJ has made significant policy achievements including: developing the Nurture NJ Maternal and Infant Health Strategic Plan – of which over half of its more than 80 recommendations have been started or completed; becoming the second state to expand Medicaid coverage to 365 days postpartum; establishing Medicaid reimbursement for doula care; increasing perinatal Medicaid provider reimbursements to 100 percent of Medicare rates; and launching the most robust-in-the-nation universal nurse home visitation program, Family Connects NJ, so that every new parent is visited by a nurse in their home for free within two weeks after bringing home a new baby. Through these innovative policies and more, Nurture NJ has positioned New Jersey as a national leader in the fight against the maternal and infant health crisis.
Over the past seven years, New Jersey has seen measurable improvements: maternal mortality has improved from 47th to 28th in the nation; infant mortality from 5th to 2nd; and neonatal mortality from 6th to 1st. The MIHIC builds on these gains, offering a permanent home for the momentum of the Nurture NJ movement. It ensures that maternal and infant health remains a top priority for generations to come.
