Fort Smith and the metro area have received federal support for infrastructure and military projects, but had no funding requests fulfilled in a recent round of appropriations legislation approved by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump.
The office of U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., recently listed Arkansas projects and programs included in three fiscal year 2026 appropriations bills for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior and other agencies.
The Arkansas funding included $16 million for water system work on the Grand Prairie irrigation project in the Arkansas Delta, $12 million for system improvements in the Bayou Meto Water District, $10 million for wastewater infrastructure expansion at the Port of Little Rock, $5.5 million to establish the Arkansas Criminal Intelligence Network (ACIN), and $3.5 million to provide technology and equipment for the city of Jonesboro’s real-time crime center.
“I am pleased Congress has approved more full-year funding bills and was proud to secure critical investments directly in Arkansas to enhance law enforcement capabilities, facilitate important research and improve rural and regional water infrastructure,” Boozman said in a statement. “Ensuring our communities get the support they deserve and helping provide needed budgetary certainty to these federal departments is a win-win.”
Fort Smith and the region have benefited and are benefiting from recent federal funding announcements, with the biggest being at least $600 million in funding from defense-related budgets to create the foreign military pilot training center at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith.
The state was awarded a federal grant of $25 million in 2024 to help complete a 14-mile segment of Interstate 49 between Alma and Barling. The segment also received $67 million in 2024 from federal legislation.
Other federal funding includes almost $16 million to build a slackwater harbor in Van Buren along the Arkansas River, and $12 million to the city of Fort Smith in 2024 for water transmission line improvements.
In response to questions from Talk Business & Politics, the city said the most recent funding round was more competitive than most with fiscal year 2025 projects pulled into fiscal year 2026 budgets because Congress in 2025 relied on continuing budget resolutions which do not allow for new funding. Also, according to the city, members of Congress were “capped on the number of projects they could submit.”
The city said its recent 2025 and 2026 federal funding requests include $20 million for water transmission line work, $12.5 million for Towson Avenue improvements, $9.8 million for neighborhood waterline work, and $5 million for 911 call center equipment.
“While the City is always hopeful to see Fort Smith projects included in federal appropriations, staff understood early on that this year’s bill would be especially competitive due to the prior year’s Continuing Resolution,” noted a statement from Josh Buchfink, Fort Smith’s public relations manager. “The City continues to pursue multiple federal funding avenues and remains encouraged by recent and ongoing federal investments in key infrastructure and economic development projects.”
The city’s biggest financial needs involve water system improvements, primarily a new water line between Lake Fort Smith and the city. The city estimates that needed upgrades to the Lake Fort Smith Water Treatment Plant and completion of a 48-inch water line between Lake Fort Smith and the city – an almost 34-mile line – has an estimated price tag ranging between $328 million and $585 million.
The city also has said it needs up to $25 million to relocate sewer and water lines along Towson Avenue. The U.S. Department of Defense denied Fort Smith’s pre-application for a $20 million grant to fund water line work along Towson Avenue.
Fort Smith voters approved in May 2025 a sales tax reallocation plan to provide $360 million over 30 years to fund federally-mandated sewer system work.
