Governor Phil Murphy Announces Vision for “The Hub” City-Owned Site to be Positioned as a New Center for Innovation and Research
New Brunswick– Governor Phil Murphy today outlined his vision for the Hub, a pivotal redevelopment site in downtown New Brunswick that will support New Jersey’s economic future as the state’s home for research and start-up incubation.
The site, owned by the city of New Brunswick and being managed by DevCo, is approved for up to four million square feet of commercial development that can complement the recent residential, retail, and entertainment growth and development in New Brunswick. The site, which will be adjacent to the New Brunswick train station, provides a strong proximity to existing corporate, medical, and academic research activity and extraordinary public transportation assets.
“For too long, New Jersey has been left out of the growing national innovation economy,” Governor Murphy said. “By creating a site where high-growth industry can thrive, New Jersey will begin to foster new ideas and take advantage of the once-in-a-generation chance to remake the state as an engine of economic opportunity.”
While development of the Hub is in the earliest stages of a years-long process that will require engagement from multiple partners, Governor Murphy announced that the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) will immediately begin a planning and implementation study. He also stated that there will be plans for the EDA to identify potential partners for the Hub.
“Governor Murphy has made reestablishing New Jersey’s preeminence in the innovation economy the centerpiece of his vision for a stronger and fairer economy, and today’s convening is a major step in bringing that vision to life,” said EDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “We look forward to working with partners in the private, public and academic sectors to make the most of this uniquely-positioned site with extraordinary potential for major job creation.”
Governor Murphy today convened a meeting with leaders in technology, life sciences, top administrators at Rutgers University, local elected officials, and labor leaders to discuss his vision for New Jersey’s economic future.
• Become a pipeline for innovative life sciences and technology talent;
• Restore New Jersey’s place in the Innovation Economy, and provide a spot to create new ideas, organizations, and industries;
• Be a center of international prominence that accelerates the growth and dynamism of the New Jersey’s life sciences and tech sectors;
• Create a partnership between the administration and Rutgers University to build on its research prowess and explore a potential customer experience lab that lets students and faculty develop innovative solutions to improve resident’s interaction with government services;
• Provide benefits for Rutgers University including increased access to government and private sector funding, and expanding the University’s national and global reach through partnerships with academic institutions and industry;
• Lead the way toward revitalizing New Jersey’s cities, by maximizing New Brunswick’s enormous potential based on its access to mass transit, its status as the home of Rutgers University and global pharmaceutical and life sciences businesses, and its excellent health care providers;
• Create construction, research, technology, and corporate jobs.
