Participatory Budgeting ABQ Project Breaks Ground

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the Albuquerque City Council District 6 Participatory Budgeting (PBABQ) pilot broke ground on the San Mateo/Kathryn International District Grower’s Market, the City’s first-ever Participatory Budgeting Pilot Project. Beginning in October 2024, PBABQ collected ideas from District 6 community members through guided meetings and information sessions. The voting period ended on April 19th, with over 1,150 votes cast by District 6 community members.

Led by City Council District 6 community members, the San Mateo/Kathryn International District Grower’s Market Project received the most votes from 243 community submitted entries. District 6 City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers spearheaded the pilot in the partnership with Participatory Budgeting Albuquerque (PBABQ). The Councilor’s District 6 set-asides funded the project, with $1.5 million devoted to the projects ultimately selected by the community.

In March 2025, the project submissions were pared down to just nine projects for final consideration. Community members living, working, and/or studying in Council District 6 were eligible to vote in the pilot, covering a wide spectrum of the community.  This included community members aged 11 and up as well as the unhoused. Over a six-month period, PBABQ Budget Delegates convened their Project Development Teams, worked closely with City staff to develop their projects, and door-knocked throughout District 6 to get the vote out for the Districts top projects.

“This groundbreaking represents a commitment from the community members in District 6,” said City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers. “The San Mateo/Kathryn International District Grower’s Market will address pressing food insecurities by improving access to fresh food for many of our district neighbors in need. It will also support programming at the site on days when the market isn’t in operation. The Grower's Market, the One Stop Respite Station, and the other projects selected through our community's PBABQ process, all reflect District 6 priorities."

PBABQ Steering Committee Member Colleen Tsosie, one of the San Mateo/Kathryn Growers Market Project team members pointed to the community’s passion for the pilot. “Our community stepped forward and formed Project Development Teams led by our Budget Delegates,” she said. “I didn’t know all that goes into a grower’s market at first. There are a lot of needs, including a certified kitchen! After this awesome Growers Market is built, it will have local farmers produce, a nearby certified kitchen, and an operations manager who will get it up and started!”

The Grower’s Market PBABQ idea was submitted by Raul Villarreal and Brooke Bernini, and was headed up by William Clayton, the Grower’s Market Project Budget Delegate. All are District 6 constituents.

Today, there are several large storage units on the site. Those storage units will remain there and be put to use as temporary storage space for the unhoused who are seeking services with ACS. The Market will connect to ACS via a foot bridge over the drainage area that separates the two spaces.

“This innovative project is another example of our continued commitment to investing in the International District,” said City Mayor Tim Keller. “This combines our desire to alleviate the lack of fresh food options in the area and create a place for families and local entrepreneurs to gather in community.”

“Rethinking how we use spaces like this is key to revitalizing neighborhoods. The new ID Market will be useful, exciting, and is designed to provide a safe space for people to gather,” said Chris Sanchez, Deputy Director of the Municipal Development Department. “We’re looking forward to this project, and then to discovering a new favorite burger or taco truck.”

The project will be constructed in three phases with the completion of the first phase projected for April of 2026.

Councilor Rogers also shared additional PBABQ projects that would be included in her set aside funding: The One Stop Respite Station, and 1 Portland Loo Public Restroom Unit are included in the Councilor’s set-asides for this upcoming year and will be part of the Grower’s Market campus. The 5 Blocks for Life project – aimed at improving pedestrian safety for students and residents around Wilson Middle School – could be funded with General Obligation bonds by voters in November. Each of these projects is expected to be completed within the next two years.

Here are some highlights of the future Grower’s Market:

• Courtyard stage for support programs
• Lockers for the rehabilitated
• Basic benches, sidewalks and walkways
• One Stop Respite Station
• Solar panels and control station
• LED signs
• Water Fountains/bottle filling stations
• Transformable shipping containers
• 1 Portland Loo Public Restroom

What is Participatory Budgeting? PB is a six-step process where the community decides how public money will be spent. Visit http://www.pbabq.org and see how Participatory Budgeting gives communities real power over real money!