Participatory Budgeting ABQ Project Selection Results Revealed

ALBUQUERQUE – Today, the Albuquerque City Council District 6 Participatory Budgeting (PBABQ) pilot unveiled the Kathryn-San Mateo Growers' Market as the community project selected from over 240 entries in the City’s first-ever Participatory Budgeting Pilot Project. District 6 City Councilor Nichole L. Rogers spearheaded the partnership with PBABQ, devoting $1.5 million in funding from the Councilor’s District 6 set-asides for the project community members imagined, developed, and voted upon from within Council District 6. The announcement was made at the Mesa Verde Community Center in Council District 6.

The PBABQ pilot provides community members with the opportunity to directly decide how $1.5 million of public funds are allocated to community-driven projects. In October 2024, PBABQ began collecting ideas from District 6 community members through guided meetings and information sessions. In March 2025, those 240 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. The voting period ended on April 19th, with over 1,150 votes cast by District 6 community members.

Councilor Rogers pointed out the community’s passion for the pilot. “Our community stepped forward and formed Project Development Teams led by our Budget Delegates,” she said. “These were all District 6 community members who put in the hard work to gather the submissions, solicit input from the district, and provide PBABQ and our Council staff with valuable information throughout the process.”

Over a six-month period, 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.

“Working on the Grower’s Market project was a real challenge! said team member Colleen Tsosie, one of the San Mateo/Kathryn Growers Market. “I didn’t know all that goes into a grower’s market — I thought you could bring your crops to sell and that was it. Come to find out, a certified kitchen is required, and there needs to be a good operations person to run it. I’m hoping that after this Awesome Growers Market is built, it will have local farmers, a nearby certified kitchen, and an operations manager who will get it up and started!”

Councilor Rogers also surprised attendees at the Mesa Verde Community Center when she revealed additional PBABQ projects are to be funded! The One Stop Respite Station, 1 Portland Loo Public Restroom Unit will be included with the Kathryn/San Mateo Growers Market, and the 5 Blocks for Life project will be funded with General Obligation bonds. These projects are expected to be completed in the next two years.

Here are the nine projects community members had to choose from within District 6.

• Transforming Vacant Land into Public Parklets ($400,000)
• First Responder Mural ($64,500)
• One Stop Respite Station ($175,575)
• 5 Blocks for Life ($1.5 million)
• Buena Vista Drive Bike Infrastructure Improvements ($1.5 million)
• San Mateo/Kathryn Grower's Market ($949,045)
• Gateway Family Shelter Multi-Use Playground ($500,000)
• 3 Portland Loo Public Restroom Units ($1,436,730)
• 3 Traffic Circles in the Trumbull Neighborhood ($420,000)

“Our PBABQ pilot provided a rare opportunity for our community to directly shape our District,” said District 6 Councilor Nichole L. Rogers during her remarks. “We will continue to encourage full and equitable participation from our community for our community, and make all voices heard.”