City of Fort Smith to spend around $177,000 on federal lobbying, travel in 2025
by October 10, 2025 12:47 pm 2,075 views
(from left) Fort Smith City Directors Neal Martin, and Lee Kemp, U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark., Fort Smith Mayor George McGill, Acting Fort Smith Administrator Jeff Dingman (photo courtesy city of Fort Smith)
A recent lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., by seven city of Fort Smith officials and employees cost just under $15,000, but the city spends considerably more than that with a lobbying firm that includes the defense industry 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 were in the nation’s capital for meetings with members of Arkansas’ Congressional delegation and agency officials.
The group met with U.S. Sens. John Boozman and Tom Cotton, R-Ark., and U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, R-Rogers. They also met with officials 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 costs for the trip, according to information provided by the city.
- Air travel and fees: $5,505.30
- Ground transportation: $667.11
- Lodging: $6,599.92
- Per diem: $1,572.25
- Two group lunches: $367
- Other: $104
Catsavis said because the city did not receive “congressionally directed spending” in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, the board and city staff decided to conduct annual lobbying trips.
“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 said in a statement provided 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 city delegation also met with The Roosevelt Group and Converge Strategies, two D.C.-based firms. Converge Strategies focuses on helping private and public sector organizations improve energy security and resiliency. The Roosevelt Group has been employed by the city since February 2024 to lobby on behalf of the city and help the city be aware of funding opportunities.
According to information from Dingman, the city pays The Roosevelt Group $12,500 a month, or $150,000 a year. The city spent $12,450 in early 2025 with the Peter Damon Group, also a D.C.-based lobbying firm, but has ended that contract. Dingman said city staff are proposing in the 2026 budget to continue using The Roosevelt Group, but dropped the Damon Group to “reduce cost.”