Meeting for the first time in the new year, Hopkinsville City Council heard an update regarding the Small Business Stimulus Program and approved an ordinance waiving certain alcoholic beverage license fees for 2021.
City Clerk Crissy Fletcher presented the ordinance waiving license taxes or fees upon the business or occupation of dealing in, handling, selling, dispensing, or soliciting the sale of alcoholic beverages and malt beverages.
The ordinance passed unanimously on the first reading.
The Council also approved two ordinances amending the operational and capital budgets on the second reading.
Chief Financial Officer Robert Martin presented his monthly financial statement for November and provided an update regarding the Small Business Stimulus Program. Martin said the City received a total of 291 stimulus applications and 202 small businesses were awarded grants for a total of $309,000.
He said the applications that were not approved included duplicates and businesses that have had no activity or reported to the City.
In addition, Martin says the other businesses included non-payment of minimum business license as well as non-profit organizations.
He said the six non-profit organizations who applied were not eligible to receive funding from this program.
According to Martin, almost $27,000 of the Small Business Stimulus Program funding is available but he added the application period has closed. He said that money has been put in the Economic Development Fund and the Council can decide in the future what to do with the funds.
City Administrative Officer Troy Body announced the City will receive around $690,000 additional funding from the CARES Act in the near future that will cover expenses for first responders.
The Council also heard an update from Industrial Development Board Chair John Crenshaw regarding the new spec building to be built in partnership with the Economic Development Council, the City, and Christian County Fiscal Court. He said they have been able to save some money after making some changes to keep within budget, meaning the interest payments should be less than they initially projected.
