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Hopkinsville Is A Finalist For A Mobile Communications Tech Makeover

Mayor Wendell Lynch (left) announces Hopkinsville’s selection as a finalist in the T-Mobile contest with two representatives of the company Thursday morning in downtown Hopkinsville.
The Hoptown Chronicle
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Screenshot/Facebook
Mayor Wendell Lynch (left) announces Hopkinsville’s selection as a finalist in the T-Mobile contest with two representatives of the company Thursday morning in downtown Hopkinsville.

Hopkinsville is one of 10 finalists for a $3 million tech makeover from T-Mobile that the company says will make the winning town a 5G model for communities across the United States.

City officials were celebrating the selection Thursday morning in downtown Hopkinsville, where T-Mobile was handing out free pink donuts, a nod to the company’s magenta-colored logo, until 4 p.m. Thursday in the Hopkinsville Water Environment Authority parking lot. A company representative told Hoptown Chronicle that T-Mobile bought 6,000 donuts from Whistle Stop Donuts on Ninth Street.

A news release describes Hopkinsville as “a charming, southern agricultural community with one of the most diverse populations in Kentucky, (which) neighbors the Fort Campbell Army installation.”

The T-Mobile Hometown Techover competition received thousands of submissions, the company said.

“A panel of judges from T-Mobile and Smart Growth America will determine a grand-prize winner based on project feasibility, the town’s need for a network upgrade and town leadership interest and engagement,” the news release states.

Smart Growth America is a nonprofit that works on public policy related to community development in rural and urban areas.

In a release from the city, Mayor Wendell Lynch said, “Hopkinsville is known worldwide for its generous spirit. What a treat to be celebrated by a global company that recognizes the many things our community does each day.”

As a finalist, Hopkinsville will receive a $50,000 grant for a community project. Officials have not said how it will be used.

The makeover for the winning community will include:

In addition, there will be a free concert with a multi-platinum musical duo Florida Georgia Line.

The other towns named as finalists, along with the description provided by T-Mobile, are:

  • Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, is nestled in the Poconos and home to a historic downtown filled with small businesses that are the heart of the economy.
  • Dunn, North Carolina, is a beautiful small town in central North Carolina with a walkable downtown and nurtures tourism with small businesses and museums.
  • Girard, Kansas, is a town in southeastern Kansas with dedicated teachers who want to help improve their students’ connectivity.
  • Guadalupe, California, is located on the Central California coast near the famous Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes, has an economy dependent on the surrounding farms that feed America.
  • Kalispell, Montana, is one of the fastest-growing small cities in the United States located in northwest Montana and is known for its incredible outdoor recreation and proximity to Glacier National Park.
  • Tipton, Indiana, has a high concentration of veterans within its community and is honoring them with Hometown Hero banners displayed on their downtown streetlamps.
  • Wareham, Massachusetts, is a diverse New England town situated just outside Cape Cod on picturesque Buzzards Bay. The economy is rooted in the fishing and agriculture industries and bolstered by tourism, manufacturing and commerce.
  • Washington, Missouri, is a growing community nestled along the Missouri River that serves as the retail and industrial development hub of the county.
  • Woodstock, Illinois, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is a diverse city known for its historic downtown district and turn-of-the-century town square.

This story was originally published by the Hoptown Chronicle, a nonprofit newsroom covering Hopkinsville.

Jennifer P. Brown is the founder and editor of Hoptown Chronicle.