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Stadelman announces more than $1.2 million in Back to Business grants for businesses

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ROCKFORD – Local restaurants and hotels in and around Rockford will receive $1,228,157.04 in funding through the Back to Business grant program to help facilitate their recovery thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Steve Stadelman.

“We are still feeling the impact around the state from the troublesome years of the pandemic,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “Through this program we have delivered funding to businesses around the state in an effort to bounce back from the pandemic, and with today’s investment, we are showing local restaurants that Illinois has their back.”

“Words alone can’t describe how much relief this B2B Grant Award means for us!  It’s a much needed lifeline that will help us get thru these ever changing times and tough challenges we face as small business operators.” Anthony DiTullio, owner of DiTullio’s said. “We’re so grateful to be a recipient of this State of Illinois, DCEO Grant Award Partnership Program with Senator Stadelman.”

Restaurants and hotels in and around the Rockford area receiving Back to Business grants include:

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Fourth summit to provide second chances through free legal aid

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• Free Legal Consultation
• Lawyers

People who are eligible to have their criminal records sealed or expunged can obtain a free attorney to prepare their case for review by a judge during State Senator Steve Stadelman's 2023 Second Chances Summit from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. October 13 at the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford.

Stadelman will announce the opening of registration at a news conference Sunday. To sign up for the free legal consultation, visit www.senatorstadelman.com.

SECOND CHANCES SUMMIT 2023

News Conference

1:30 PM SUNDAY AUGUST 13

EJ Zeke Giorgi Center, 200 S. Wyman St., Rockford (Lower Level Atrium)

More than 300 people met one-on-one with volunteer attorneys during the previous summits in 2022, 2019 and 2018. Stadelman's office receives requests to repeat the event on a regular basis, but attempts in 2020 and 2021 were called off because of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Many well-meaning men and women in our community find that a past transgression, often from their youth, prevents them from obtaining living-wage employment and adequately supporting themselves and their families,” Stadelman said. "Illinois law allows people who meet certain criteria to seek judicial relief, and we all benefit as a result.”

Retired 17^th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Rosemary Collins and an attorney for event partner Prairie State Legal Services will join Stadelman at the news conference. Collins, who volunteered at last year’s summit, will encourage local attorneys to contribute their time and expertise. Prairie State provides free event training that volunteer attorneys can use toward the state's continuing education requirements for lawyers.

Interested attorneys can enroll in the training session online at www.senatorstadelman.com or by calling 815-985-2902.

Stadelman headlines panel discussion on rescuing local news from decline

State Senator Steve Stadelman will bring his perspective as a television news anchor turned public official and chairman of the state's Local Journalism Task Force to a panel discussion titled, "The Gigantic Impact of Disappearing Local News: How the Problem Occurred and Are There Solutions?"

The town-hall style forum is being organized by former U.S. Rep Don Manzullo, who now serves as chief policy advisor for The Institute of Public Policy and World Affairs at Rockford University. Admission is free at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 8, at Fisher Chapel at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., and seating is open. Rockford University will livestream the event at this link.

Stadelman worked for 25 years as a Rockford broadcaster before his election to the Illinois Senate in 2012. He passed legislation to establish a statewide task force to study the decline of local news across Illinois and recommend ways state government might help revive the decliling the local news industry. The task force, made of up journalism academics and frontline news professionals from across Illinois, began meeting in March.

"Newsrooms across the nation are shrinking, especially in smaller and more rural areas, and an alarming number have closed in the last decade," Stadelman said. "When people don't know what's happening on their town councils and school boards, they can't make educated decisions or hold public officials accountable."

Panelists joining Stadelman at Rockford University include:
• Eric Wilson, Rock Valley College journalism instructor and WTVO-17 news anchor
• Corina Curry, news director for the Rockford Register Star and Freeport Journal Standard
• Mark Bonne, Rockford alderman and former Rockford Register Star investigative reporter and columnist
• Chris Linden, executive editor for NW Quarterly magazine
• Mike Paterson, president of Mid-West Family Broadcasting and RockRiverCurrent.com

"Local news plays a vital role in our way of life," Stadelman said. "Not only do we depend on local news to keep us informed, but local journalistm helps give communities a sense of place and contributes to the local economy."