City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers and Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque Launch Public Vote to Name New International District Neighborhood Market
District 6 residents ages 11 and older are urged to vote by May 31st; Ribbon-cutting and name reveal scheduled for June 9.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, Albuquerque City Councilor for District 6 Nichole L. Rogers, in partnership with Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque (PBABQ) and Localist, launched a community-wide campaign inviting residents to vote on the official name for the new market coming to the San Mateo Blvd. and Kathryn Ave. site in the International District.
The market is intended to significantly improve access to fresh, healthy, and locally grown foods for International District and Council District 6 residents while creating vibrant new economic opportunities for local businesses and entrepreneurs. The project became a reality after finishing as the top vote-getter during last year’s participatory budgeting cycle, securing $949,000 from City Councilor Rogers’ set-aside discretionary funding. Since the initial investment, this catalytic project has also leveraged close to $2 million in state, federal, foundation, and City matching funds, and has spawned the creation of a District 6 Food Policy Council and Market Working Group.
"This market is a direct reflection of what our community wants and needs because the community voted to fund it through participatory budgeting," said City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers. "Now, we are handing the reins back to the neighborhood to decide what this historic space will be called. If you live, work, or study in Council District 6, your voice matters most. It takes less than a minute to cast your ballot and help shape the identity of this vital community hub."
How to Vote
Voting is open to anyone who uses the Localist platform to cast their vote. Residents can view the name options and cast their vote online by visiting: https://www.localist.buzz/campaign/145
Councilor Rogers and Localist are not requiring participants to be residents of Council District 6, because they would like to have community members from throughout the city be engaged in the naming and launching of the new market.
The voting period officially closes on Sunday, May 31st, 2026.
In the coming days, community members should also keep an eye out for banners and posters that will be installed at the San Mateo and Kathryn site, as well as in the windows of nearby business owners and property owners. These banners and posters will include a QR code linked with the Localist voting platform to ensure that everyone within close proximity of the site has the opportunity to vote.
Save the Date: Ribbon-Cutting & Name Reveal
The community is invited to celebrate the culmination of this project at an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and name reveal celebration:
- When: Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 1:30 PM
- Where: Southeast corner of San Mateo Blvd. and Kathryn Ave. SE
Still Time to Submit 2026 Project Ideas
City Councilor Rogers and PBABQ also remind residents that the submission window for the current cycle of Participatory Budgeting is still open. If you are a community member who lives, works, or studies in Council District 6, you have until May 31, 2026 to pitch community improvement ideas and decide how local public funds should be spent. Project ideas can be submitted online at:
Participatory Budgeting Idea Submission Portal
About Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque (PBABQ)
Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque is a democratic process that gives City residents direct decision-making power over how to spend part of a municipal budget, ensuring public tax dollars directly address grassroots neighborhood priorities.