The Sebastian County Quorum Court will vote next month on whether to allocate $30,000 in county funds to The Artemis Project, a Fort Smith-based nonprofit that provides support services for women and families.
The decision comes after months of public discussion and review. The court approved placing the funding ordinance on its June agenda during a meeting Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Cindy Scott and Elizabeth Johnson, representatives of The Artemis Project, attended the meeting to answer questions about how the money would be used.
The Artemis Project has operated in Sebastian County since 2020, offering resources including emergency assistance, childcare support, and family advocacy programs. The organization reported serving over 400 individuals in the county last year, according to its most recent annual report.
Some members of the Quorum Court raised questions about oversight and long-term sustainability of funding during Tuesday’s session. Scott and Johnson provided documentation outlining current grant support and financial audits conducted by an independent firm based in Little Rock.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to present our work directly to the court,” said Scott, the nonprofit’s director of operations. “This funding would allow us to expand our after-school tutoring program and hire a part-time case manager.”
The requested $30,000 represents less than 0.1% of the county’s discretionary budget. If approved, it would mark the first time Sebastian County has allocated general fund dollars to The Artemis Project. Other local nonprofits, including the United Way of Fort Smith Area and Salvation Army, have received similar funding through annual appropriations.
The vote is scheduled for the court’s regular meeting on June 16, 2026, at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Fort Smith. A public comment period will precede the vote, which is expected to last no more than 10 minutes.
Background and Context
The Artemis Project was founded in 2018 and expanded into Sebastian County as part of a regional initiative funded by the Arkansas Community Foundation. Since then, it has operated primarily through private donations and short-term grants from foundations such as the Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation and the Fort Smith Area Chamber of Commerce.
In recent years, local governments across Northwest Arkansas have increased attention on funding social service nonprofits directly. Benton County, for example, approved a $75,000 allocation to the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County in 2025, while Washington County allocated $50,000 to Ozark Regional Transit for community outreach programming.
Sebastian County Judge David Hudson said the court is treating the request like any other line-item proposal, with emphasis on transparency and measurable outcomes.
“We want to make sure taxpayer dollars are being used effectively,” Hudson said. “That means reviewing not just what the money pays for, but how those services impact real people in our community.”
Johnson, who serves as the nonprofit’s program coordinator, emphasized that the funding would directly benefit Sebastian County residents. She cited a waiting list of 30 children for their current tutoring program, which meets three days a week at a community center on North Towson Avenue in Fort Smith.
“We’ve had to turn families away because we don’t have enough staff,” Johnson said. “This funding would help us meet existing demand before we even think about growth.”
The Artemis Project is one of several nonprofits in Fort Smith seeking public funding this fiscal year. Others include the Sebastian County Literacy Council and the Fort Smith Regional Arts Council, both of which submitted requests earlier this spring.
If approved, the funding would be disbursed in two installments: $15,000 upon approval and the remaining $15,000 by December 1, 2026. The nonprofit would be required to submit quarterly reports detailing expenditures and program outcomes.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m. in the county courthouse, located at 200 South 4th Street in Fort Smith.
Source: NWA Democrat Gazette
