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Community
Funds provided by the RWJF & PB Seeds NJ through Trent-Towne Market.
2025: Awarded $10,000 Participatory Budgeting Grant for the CNZ
What is Participatory Budgeting?
Participatory budgeting (PB) is a democratic process where community members directly decide how to spend part of a public budget. At TrentTowne Market, we believe the people who live and work in a neighborhood know best what it needs.
Through open meetings, proposal submissions, and community votes, residents shape real decisions about market programming, vendor support, youth initiatives, and neighborhood improvements in the Choice Neighborhood Zone.
How It Works
1
Allocate Funds
TrentTowne Market sets aside a portion of revenue for community investment.
2
Propose Projects
CNZ residents and businesses submit proposals for how funds should be used.
3
Community Votes
Eligible participants vote on which proposals to fund. Every voice counts.
4
Distribute Funds
Winning projects receive funding and the community sees the impact directly.
Who Can Participate?
Participatory budgeting at TrentTowne Market is open to residents and businesses in the Choice Neighborhood Zone (CNZ). The CNZ is home to 5,754 residents and faces concentrated economic and food-access challenges that PB is designed to address.
Voting and proposal processes happen through community meetings — no online accounts or technical setup required. Show up, speak up, and make your voice heard.
Our Initiatives
Vendor Support Program
Affordable vendor spaces starting at $35/day, with mentorship and resources to help local entrepreneurs grow their businesses at the market.
7 Week Urban Farming & Sustainability Workshop
To educate and empower Trenton residents, especially in underserved neighborhoods, on how to grow, preserve, and sustain their own food systems.
Cultural Preservation
Through the Voices of 250th project and community events, we're documenting and celebrating the stories that make Trenton unique.
Food Access
Bridging the gap between Promiseland Farm and the Choice Neighborhood Zone, bringing fresh, affordable produce to a USDA-designated food desert.
Get Involved
Whether you want to propose a project, vote on community priorities, or learn more about what's happening in the Choice Neighborhood Zone — we want to hear from you.