diff --git a/src/backend/app/projects/project_crud.py b/src/backend/app/projects/project_crud.py
index 0f4c6c7438..b18dd696d3 100644
--- a/src/backend/app/projects/project_crud.py
+++ b/src/backend/app/projects/project_crud.py
@@ -2398,9 +2398,11 @@ async def get_dashboard_detail(project_id: int, db: Session):
 
     s3_project_path = f"/{project.organisation_id}/{project_id}"
     s3_submission_path = f"/{s3_project_path}/submissions.meta.json"
-    
-    file = get_obj_from_bucket(settings.S3_BUCKET_NAME, s3_submission_path)
-    project.last_active = (json.loads(file.getvalue()))["last_submission"]
+    try:
+        file = get_obj_from_bucket(settings.S3_BUCKET_NAME, s3_submission_path)
+        project.last_active = (json.loads(file.getvalue()))["last_submission"]
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
 
     contributors = db.query(db_models.DbTaskHistory).filter(db_models.DbTaskHistory.project_id==project_id).all()
     unique_user_ids = {user.user_id for user in contributors if user.user_id is not None}
diff --git a/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py b/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
index e951ca377d..a40641974c 100644
--- a/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
+++ b/src/backend/app/projects/project_schemas.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ class ProjectBase(BaseModel):
     author: User
     project_info: ProjectInfo
     status: ProjectStatus
-    # location_str: str
+    location_str: str
     outline_geojson: Optional[GeojsonFeature] = None
     project_tasks: Optional[List[tasks_schemas.Task]]
     xform_title: Optional[str] = None