Fort Smith city leaders are in our nation's capital to meet with lawmakers about several projects happening in the city.Fort Smith Mayor George McGill and several other members of the Board of Directors have been in Washington D.C. since Tuesday.Fort Smith's public relations manager, Josh Buchfink, said they're meeting with Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Tom Cotton, and Rep. Steve Womack to talk about the future of the city."An example of what they might ask is, What is the trajectory of growth you see taking place in the city and how does that impact the families that will be moving into the area with this foreign military sales project? We are projecting hundreds of military servicemen and women and their families to move the area,” Buchfink said.Fort Smith was chosen by the U.S. Department of Air Force to be the new home of a project that will bring F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Ebbing Air National Guard Base.Buchfink said the leaders will also ask for federal funding to help with some infrastructure projects, like a 48-inch water transmission line the city is hoping to put in."I think it’s a good time to sit down with them and say, 'What are you hearing about Fort Smith? What are we doing well and how can we continue to do those things?' We want to ensure a brighter future for our city and our residents," he said.The mayor and directors will continue meeting with lawmakers through Thursday.
Fort Smith city leaders are in our nation's capital to meet with lawmakers about several projects happening in the city.
Fort Smith Mayor George McGill and several other members of the Board of Directors have been in Washington D.C. since Tuesday.
Fort Smith's public relations manager, Josh Buchfink, said they're meeting with Sen. John Boozman, Sen. Tom Cotton, and Rep. Steve Womack to talk about the future of the city.
"An example of what they might ask is, What is the trajectory of growth you see taking place in the city and how does that impact the families that will be moving into the area with this foreign military sales project? We are projecting hundreds of military servicemen and women and their families to move the area,” Buchfink said.
Fort Smith was chosen by the U.S. Department of Air Force to be the new home of a project that will bring F-16 and F-35 fighter jets to Ebbing Air National Guard Base.
Buchfink said the leaders will also ask for federal funding to help with some infrastructure projects, like a 48-inch water transmission line the city is hoping to put in.
"I think it’s a good time to sit down with them and say, 'What are you hearing about Fort Smith? What are we doing well and how can we continue to do those things?' We want to ensure a brighter future for our city and our residents," he said.
The mayor and directors will continue meeting with lawmakers through Thursday.