City of Fort Smith to spend round $177,000 on federal lobbying, journey in 2025

A latest lobbying journey to Washington, D.C., by seven metropolis of Fort Smith officers and workers price just below $15,000, however the metropolis spends significantly greater than that with a lobbying agency that features the protection business and infrastructure as its focus areas.

Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, Fort Smith Mayor George McGill; Directors Christina Catsavis, Lee Kemp, and Neal Martin; Acting City Administrator Jeff Dingman; Public Relations Manager Josh Buchfink; and Grants and Government Relations Coordinator Chris Hoover had been within the nation’s capital for conferences with members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation and company officers.

The group met with U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers. They additionally met with officers from the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and the National League of Cities.

Following are the prices for the journey, in accordance with info offered by the town.

• Air journey and charges: $5,505.30
• Ground transportation: $667.11
• Lodging: $6,599.92
• Per diem: $1,572.25
• Two group lunches: $367
• Other: $104

Catsavis stated as a result of the town didn’t obtain “congressionally directed spending” in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the board and metropolis workers determined to conduct annual lobbying journeys.

“Since we’ve made it a priority we have secured funding in FY 2024, 2025, and 2026, including $4.1 million for the airport’s new snow-removal facility, $8.1 million for improvements at the Port of Fort Smith, and $15 million for critical water infrastructure upgrades,” Catsavis stated in a press release offered to Talk Business & Politics. “That’s a direct result of showing up and advocating for our city. We’re not just meeting with our congressmen; we’re meeting with their staff, who play a critical role in communicating and developing funding priorities, and with federal agencies like the EPA, which oversees our consent decree. We’re bringing our tax dollars back home instead of letting them be spent in competing cities. If we’re not in the room when decisions are made, we can’t expect Fort Smith’s needs to be heard. Having a seat at the table doesn’t help Fort Smith unless I’m able to sit down and fight for our city.”

The metropolis delegation additionally met with The Roosevelt Group and Converge Strategies, two D.C.-based corporations. Converge Strategies focuses on serving to non-public and public sector organizations enhance power safety and resiliency. The Roosevelt Group has been employed by the town since February 2024 to foyer on behalf of the town and assist the town pay attention to funding alternatives.

According to info from Dingman, the town pays The Roosevelt Group $12,500 a month, or $150,000 a yr. The metropolis spent $12,450 in early 2025 with the Peter Damon Group, additionally a D.C.-based lobbying agency, however has ended that contract. Dingman stated metropolis workers are proposing within the 2026 finances to proceed utilizing The Roosevelt Group, however dropped the Damon Group to “reduce cost.”

Related