River Valley 911 Center to Build New Home With $8 Million DOT Grant

Fort Smith residents will see a consolidated 911 call center replace the current setup, a move funded largely by an $8 million federal grant. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the award Monday under the Safe Streets and Roads for All program. The funding covers the majority of a new facility estimated to cost $10 million or less.

Wes Milam, director of the River Valley 911 Communications Center, described the news as a major relief for local emergency services. The grant eliminates the need to draw heavily on local taxpayer funds for the construction phase. Milam stated the center will allow police, fire, and emergency medical services to respond with greater speed and efficiency.

The consolidation effort began in June 2025. It responds to a state mandate requiring Arkansas to reduce its 911 centers from 114 to 79. Milam has led the initiative to merge the city and county operations since taking the director role. He called the project a singular goal of his tenure.

The current center operates out of the Fort Smith Police Department facility. Milam described the space as squeezed. In January 2026, Police Chief Danny Baker transferred control of the police communications unit to the River Valley 911 Communications Center. The center currently employs 28 telecommunications workers and six supervisors.

The facility handles more than 157,000 emergency and non-emergency calls annually. That figure translates to over 430 calls per day in 2025. The River Valley 911 Communications Center manages dispatch for all of Sebastian County. Its fiscal year 2027 budget totals $4.117 million. Funding sources include $1.5 million from Arkansas 911 funds, $1.729 million from the city, and $751,935 from the county.

The new building will place EMS dispatchers under the same roof as other services. Milam noted that transferring calls to EMS currently costs valuable seconds. Full consolidation aims to eliminate that delay to save lives. The grant also covers the purchase of new equipment for the center.

Fort Smith City Administrator Jeff Dingman said the competitive federal grant allows the city to invest in public safety without placing the full financial burden on local taxpayers. He praised the team for making a strong case to the U.S. Department of Transportation. The city thanks the agency for its confidence in the community.

Chris Hoover, the city's grants and governmental relations manager, played a key role in identifying the funding opportunity. Milam credited Hoover, a former congressional staffer, with being essential to the application process. Hoover's experience with federal grants and connections helped secure the award.

The city must provide a $2 million match for the federal grant. Milam confirmed that the River Valley 911 Communications Center reserve budget holds $2.685 million, which meets the matching requirement. No location has been selected for the new center, but officials are reviewing available options.

Milam projects the new facility will be complete and operational by the end of 2028. The timeline assumes no significant delays in construction or site selection. The center will serve every resident and visitor in Sebastian County for the next several decades.