Sandoval County received more than $1 million for renovation and behavioral health projects from the $62 million U.S. Sen. Ben Ray Luján secured for 74 New Mexico projects.
The county received $850,000 for the El Zocalo-Sena Building Renovation Project, which was also secured by U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury and $200,000 for a Behavioral Health Planning Grant. According to Katherine Schneider, spokesperson for Luján, these projects are reviewed based on eligibility and community impact.
The El Zocalo Plaza in Bernalillo, built in 1874, translates to “the meeting place” and is used as an event venue. According to Sandoval County Manager Wayne Johnson, the Sena building, part of the El Zocalo complex, has been renovated on the outside but the building still has dirt floors.
Johnson said the funding will be used to install new flooring and features to make it an ADA-accessible meeting space for community events. Stansbury said these community-based projects are priorities of the community members.
“We worked directly with the community and they made the request to help revitalize the historic building so it could be used for economic development in the downtown area of Bernalillo, creating space for community activities and for commercial activity,” Stansbury said.
The county is still developing its approach for the Behavioral Health Planning Grant. Sandoval County Commissioner Katherine Bruch said she hopes the county’s community health programs can use this funding to address mental health and reduce substance abuse.
U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich also secured $114 million for 82 New Mexico projects, including $375,000 for Santa Ana Pueblo to build a garage and vehicle maintenance facility to house Pueblo emergency vehicles, school buses, and other vehicles.