- Martin County commissioners approved a long-term lease for county-owned property in Stuart for the proposed Treasure Coast Maternity Center.
- The Martin County Healthy Start Coalition is leading the $10 million project, which has secured $1 million in state funding so far.
- The facility will be located at 6000 SE Tower Drive, directly across from Cleveland Clinic Martin South.
Martin County commissioners have approved a long-term lease for county-owned property at 6000 SE Tower Drive in Stuart, clearing another major hurdle for the proposed Treasure Coast Maternity Center. The project is the community’s answer to the 2025 closure of the only hospital labor and delivery unit in Martin County.
Filling the Gap Left by Hospital Closure
When Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital closed its labor and delivery unit in 2025, expectant mothers in Martin County lost their only local option for giving birth. Many were forced to travel to hospitals in neighboring counties to deliver their babies.
The Martin County Healthy Start Coalition began working on a solution soon after. The group plans to build a standalone birth center on the county-owned site, located directly across from Cleveland Clinic Martin South. The new facility will serve low-risk pregnancies and is expected to deliver roughly 250 babies per year when it opens.
Plans for the center include birthing suites, prenatal care, postpartum support, lactation services, mental health resources, and other maternal health programs. The facility will coordinate with local hospitals and EMS to ensure patient safety.
Funding Secured, More Still Needed
The project carries an estimated price tag of $10 million. The coalition has already locked in $1 million in state appropriations, sponsored by State Sen. Gayle Harrell and State Rep. Toby Overdorf. Organizers will now shift focus to raising the remaining funds needed to move construction forward.
Healthy Start Coalition CEO Samantha Suffich said the approval of the land lease is a meaningful milestone for the community.
“I think there will be a sense of relief in the community, knowing that this is taken care of. We are preparing for the future growth in the community, and we are taking care of the growing families,” Suffich said.
If fundraising and construction proceed on schedule, the coalition hopes to complete the Treasure Coast Maternity Center by 2030.
Mobile Clinic Bridges the Gap in the Meantime
While the permanent facility is years away, the coalition continues serving families through its MOM Mobile program. The mobile clinic provides prenatal care, education, and support across Martin County, with a focus on reaching communities where transportation and healthcare access have been barriers.
Since September, the program has served more than 50 expectant mothers. Currently, 31 women are enrolled in care and 12 babies have been born through the program, according to the coalition.
Organizers say families across the region will benefit from having a local birth center, and that fundraising efforts will be essential to keeping the project on track and meeting the 2030 opening goal.
