Fort Smith mayor cites successes, challenges in state of the city address

Mayor George McGill called Fort Smith vibrant and exciting in his state of the city address Thursday (Feb. 15) at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith.

“I stand before you today, filled with pride and optimism as we reflect on the projects and achievements of our beloved city over the past year,” McGill said, adding that that the city had two of the Top 10 great achievements in the state. “We garnered attention state-wide with news ranking us first and third for great achievements around the state.”

The opening of the U.S. Marshals Museum July 1 was named the No. 1 activity in Arkansas, McGill said. The No. 3 activity was the announcement of the foreign pilot training center coming to Fort Smith.

The initial announcement to locate a foreign military pilot training center in Fort Smith was made in June 2021, but the final “record of decision” from the U.S. Air Force was made in March 2023. The pilot training center is planned to support F-16 and F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland and other countries participating in the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. According to initial estimates, the new facility will cost at least $765 million to become fully operational.

Air Force officials say the earliest planes and pilots from foreign nations could arrive at Ebbing is late this year. The full complement of 12 F-16s and 24 F-35s from various countries could arrive in fiscal year 2026 at the earliest. McGill said while the FMS project is expected to bring more people to Fort Smith, the growth to the city has already started.

“Fort Smith has grown a lot faster than we ever thought. For many years, we grew at the rate of 1% or less. That’s no more,” McGill said.

He said the surge in building activity in 2023. McGill said that building permits soared by 23% to $471million last year.

“Since 2019, our building activity has more than doubled, demonstrating the confidence of the investors and developers that have found the potential in our city,” McGill said.

But with that growth, comes challenges, McGill said. One of those challenges, he said, is water.

“That is starting to put pressure on our infrastructure,” McGill said, noting Fort Smith’s need for improvements in a transmission line and treatment facility to keep up with the need for water in Chaffee Crossing. “We have a great team with expertise and knowledge that are going to come up with alternatives of what we can do to address those issues as we prepare for the amazing growth that is going to happen as the Foreign Military Sales project settles here in Fort Smith.”

McGill also listed as successes the funding secured for the slack water harbor project, which he said will be huge for economic development, along with investments in the arts with the announcement of the Institute for the Creative Arts, a new charter high school for the performing and fine arts set to open in August in Fort Smith, and improvements to the Fort Smith Regional Airport runway.

McGill rounded out his address with praise of initiatives he says will propel Fort Smith into the future, including a Fort Smith baseball team set to begin play in the new Mid America League this spring; updates to Creekmore Park and the addition of the former ACME Brick Yard to the city’s park properties.

“Another great thing is the Fort Smith International film festival and the launch of the Mid America Film Market. People will be coming from all over the world to our film festival to buy content,” McGill said, adding that the festival will bring International recognition and economic development to the city.

“Amidst these triumphs we must remain vigilant, addressing our infrastructure needs as our city continues to grow. It is imperative that we invest in our roads, bridges, and our utilities to ensure the continued prosperity of Fort Smith,” McGill said. “Whenever I am concerned about our future, I’m quickly reminded of how far we have come and how we handle those crises and those hiccups. … We’ve got the will and skills to take care of our future in a good way.”