Hopkinsville PIO invites community to forums concerning the budget, housing

The City of Hopkinsville is inviting citizens to public forums concerning the budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the Lot Next Door Program, and City Public Information Officer Amanda Brunt recently appeared on WHOP to share all the details.

Budget season is approaching, and to receive public feedback, the city is hosting a community budget forum at 6 p.m. on Monday at the Hopkinsville Municipal Building. Brunt says the forum is an opportunity for residents to share their preferences for how the city should spend taxpayer dollars in the 2026-27 fiscal year budget.

While work begins on a budget, the open application period for the Hoptown Helps Grant Program is approaching. Through the program, nonprofit agency leaders can apply for grant funds to support projects. Brunt says nonprofits are required to attend at least one Hoptown Helps informational meeting before applying to the program. The meetings are set for 5:30 p.m. on March 23 and 1 p.m. on March 30, both at the Municipal Building.

The Hoptown Helps application opens on April 1 and closes on May 31.

Hopkinsville is currently home to around 1,000 vacant lots, which cost the city around $300,000 per year to maintain. The Lot Next Door Program allows property owners to obtain vacant lots that directly neighbor their property put them back into productive use. Brunt says they are set to host a town hall at 5 p.m. on March 31 at the Municipal Building to spotlight how the program works.

More information about events the city is hosting is available at City of Hopkinsville Local Government on Facebook.