By: Najla Alexander
Middlesex County officials announced its strategic investment in The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center at a press conference on Thursday, August 15, as part of its ongoing commitment to education.
Through the consolidation of ownership of this iconic New Brunswick hotel, the County will expand its innovative and holistic economic strategy, providing interactive, hands-on learning to County residents, strengthening and accelerating workforce development, and fueling regional economic growth, officials said.
New job opportunities, career paths, and expanded educational offerings will benefit Middlesex College and Middlesex County Magnet Schools students, officials say.
According to officials, modeled after the RWJBarnabas Health Workforce Partnership, new or enhanced curricula will be developed to provide a clear path for County students to take advantage of this unprecedented access to work-based education at an operational hotel, which will bolster the future talent pipeline in Middlesex County.
Speakers at the event included Board of County Commissioners Director Ronald G. Rios; New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill; President of New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) Chris Paladino; Middlesex County Magnet Schools Superintendent Jorge Diaz; Middlesex College President Mark McCormick; Executive Director of the Middlesex County Improvement Authority (MCIA) James H. Polos; and Middlesex County Department Head of Economic Development Sandy Castor, officials stated.
“This educational investment in The Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center is a game-changing moment in our economic journey and the future of Middlesex County,” said Middlesex County Commissioner Director Ronald G. Rios.
“Innovation is a hallmark of Middlesex County, and we are innovating in workforce development, enabling a strong economic future for our community, building new educational pathways for our County students, and creating job opportunities.”
Middlesex County Commissioner Chanelle Scott McCullum, chair of the County’s Economic Development Committee, shared her input on the news: " The work of Carl Van Horn and his team was an imperative building block for the County’s Destination 2040 strategy.”
She continued, “it’s incredibly satisfying to see the fruits of that workforce development study come full circle with this educational investment. Moreover, to be co-located in the same building only further strengthens our relationship and ensures our future success.”
“The County's investment in the Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center is an investment in the continued economic growth of Middlesex County and New Brunswick, said New Brunswick Mayor Jim Cahill.
“The real-life, hands-on educational opportunities that the students will experience will well prepare them for exciting and diverse careers. This is yet another example of the County's ongoing leadership in economic and workforce development.”
“I want to express our appreciation to the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners for their vision of improving the prospects of the residents of Middlesex County through education,” said Middlesex College President Mark McCormick.
“Our students benefit from unprecedented access to a real work environment, expanding the ways in which Middlesex College can continue to live up to and lean into its mission of providing affordable access to quality education, leading to skills for a career with family-sustaining wages.”
“Middlesex County Magnet Schools are committed to providing access to high-quality, career-focused education through innovative hands-on learning — as we have been for over 100 years,” said Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools Jorge Diaz.
“Students learn best when they are involved in the educational journey first-hand. We are giving them the tools and the experience to succeed in their career aspirations and in life.”
Authorities say the 375,000-square-foot, 11-story property will be reimagined as a professional development hub for a range of studies, including hospitality, culinary, construction management, business administration, trades, including HVAC or electrical, and more.
Students will learn from the expertise of unionized Heldrich employees to continue to serve and support the hospitality needs of residents, visitors, business leaders, corporate partners, and athletes, officials stated.
With significant educational and infrastructure investments, officials say, the County aims to advance the Heldrich Hotel & Conference Center as a world-class hospitality establishment known not only in New Jersey but throughout the hospitality industry.
Officials said they accredited as an exceptional and innovative meeting space by the IACC, a globally recognized conference and meeting benchmarking organization — the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center is poised to meet the burgeoning and future conference demands driven by the influx of leaders from the HELIX complex, Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, and the County’s Community, Innovation, and Opportunity Strategic Investment Plan emerging at Middlesex College campus.
Middlesex County's fiscal stability and health, with its AAA bond rating for 23 consecutive years and debt reduction year after year, enable it to invest prudently in the best interest of the community, according to officials.
With a $16 million investment to consolidate ownership of the hotel property, the County will drive new opportunities to ensure Middlesex County is a thriving destination for many generations, officials said. 