Rock Cut about to receive road, parking, bicycle upgrades

• Rockford
• Infrastructure
• IDNR
• Rock Cut State Park

$900,000 in construction work begins next week at state park

ROCKFORD -- Road and parking lot reconstruction, new bicycle lanes and directional signage are among improvements the Illinois Department of Natural Resources will begin making at Rock Cut State Park next week, according to Illinois State Senator Steve Stadelman.

"Rock Cut has long been one of the most visited, if not the most visited, tourist site in our region. Because of its popularity and high visibility," Stadelman said, "it is imperative the state re-invest in and refresh this important public asset."

The project also includes culvert replacement and the addition of disabled access to the children's fishing pond.

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Stadelman announces Lead Service Line Inventory Grants

• Rockford
• Grants
• Lead Service Lines
• Clean Water
• Belvidere

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman announced that the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has awarded grants to 48 communities in need of lead service line replacements, including a $50,000 grant for the City of Rockford and $50,000 for the City of Belvidere.

“These funds will help communities identify the problems in their water systems and provide the knowledge of what needs fixed first,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “As we map out the service lines, our communities can figure out who needs help the most and which residents may be more at risk so we can act and fix the lines that need it most.”

The Lead Service Line Replacement and Notification Act requires owners and operators of community water supplies in Illinois to submit a complete water service line material inventory for the Illinois EPA’s approval no later than April 15, 2024. The complete inventory must report the composition of all service lines within the CWS’s distribution system.

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Stadelman announces $2.6 million investment at the Rockford International Airport

• Rockford Airport
• Aviation Mechanics
• Apprenticeship Programs

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman joined Governor Pritzker, AAR CORP and local officials to announce a $2.6 million investment into workforce training at the Rockford International Airport today.

"The Chicago-Rockford International Airport is a strong economic driver in the region, creating thousands of jobs," said Stadelman (D-Rockford). "This investment in AAR supports the continued economic impact and job creation of the airport by creating a strong pipeline of aviation mechanics and expanding opportunities for Illinoisans."

Thursday’s announcement builds off the investment made last year to help bolster the AAR CORP’s workforce strategy and has allowed them to increase the number of aviation mechanics hired from 85 in 2019 to more than 350 today.

The total investment of $5.2 million from this year and last strengthens the aviation mechanic pipeline to meet the growing demand. Along with AAR’s workforce strategy, the state’s funding supports apprenticeship opportunities, training, hiring training personnel and bolstering partnerships with local colleges and high schools throughout Northern Illinois to bring in qualified aviation mechanics.

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Stadelman looking forward to $19 million investment in Rockford and Boone County Transit

• Rockford
• Transportation
• Mass Transit
• RMTD
• Boone County

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman is excited to share the Illinois Department of Transportation’s announcement that Rockford and Boone County will be receiving $19 million in mass transit grants as a part of the historic Rebuild Illinois capital program.

“This investment to the Rockford Mass Transit District will support the community through more transit options as the new transit station will give riders a better place to commute,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “The Rebuild Illinois capital program has brought countless improvements to our communities with new facilities, green energy transportation efforts, and an increase in accessibility for our transit, I look forward to the improvements at the renovated Mulberry facility.”

Rockford Mass Transit District along with a total of 32 transit systems are receiving $113.8 million to advance 44 projects. Rockford received $16 million last year for the 520 Mulberry Street transit facility rehabilitation, renovation and expansion project and will receive another $16 million from the Rebuild Illinois grants announced today.

“The award of this state grant funding could not have come at a more crirical time in RMTD’s capital planning efforts, “ said Mike Stubbe, Executive Director of Rockford Mass Transit District. “This state infrastructure investment, paired with the availability of federal funds in the recent Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, will allow RMTD to plan on transitioning to zero emission vehicles with more certainty and immediacy, which is vital to the long-term health and quality of life in our Region.”

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