Construction Begins on Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center in Trenton

maternity

Healthcare

On Jul 24, 2025

First Lady Tammy Murphy and Governor Phil Murphy joined representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the New Jersey Maternal and Infant Health Authority (MIHIA) to break ground on the first-of-its-kind Maternal and Infant Health Innovation Center (MIHIC) in Trenton.

The MIHIC will serve as the epicenter for advancing equitable maternal and infant health care across Trenton and the nation. It aims to 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.

Located in the heart of Trenton at the southwest corner of Pennington Avenue and Warren Street, the MIHIC is the cornerstone of First Lady Murphy’s Nurture NJ initiative. It will anchor efforts to eliminate racial disparities in care and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.

NJEDA, working closely with First Lady 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.

As a part of the celebration, the NJEDA announced that its 12th Strategic Innovation Center (SIC) 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.

“This is a transformational day for every mother and baby who deserves a safe, healthy, and strong start in life,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “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.”

“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,” said Governor Murphy. “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.

The MIHIC will be powered by three anchor institutions:

Rutgers University, with leadership from the School of Nursing, 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 will deliver family, OB/GYN and pediatric services, mental and behavioral health care, and doula and lactation consultant support.
The Trenton Health Team will address social determinants of health — housing, food security, transportation — with comprehensive case management, wraparound supports, and parenting resources.

Since 2022, the NJEDA 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.

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