ROCKFORD – Building upon the smart infrastructure investments supported by State Senator Steve Stadelman, the Illinois Department of Transportation announced over $83 million in road and bridge improvement projects coming to the area over the next six years.

“This is an investment into our communities that ensures Illinois has the best roads and means of travel for our residents,” State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “This investment will provide funding for many projects throughout the community that will spur job growth.”

As part of IDOT’s latest Multi-Year Plan under Rebuild Illinois, the district Stadelman represents will see 34 infrastructure projects totaling more than $83 million over the next six years.

ROCKFORD -- State Senator Steve Stadelman announced today that more than $5 million in state funding is headed to downtown Rockford to help restore the historic Times Theater and reconstruct Madison Street from the City Market Pavilion to Prairie Street Brewhouse.

“The ongoing redevelopment of downtown Rockford is important to the economic growth of the entire region, and this funding focuses on another two key assets in the mix of critical public and private projects over the last 20-plus years," Stadelman said of the Rebuild Downtowns & Main Streets Capital Grant awards.

GT Partners LLC, a subsidiary of  Rockford-based Joseph James Partners, will use its $3 million Main Street award toward a $15 million restoration of the long vacant Times, built in 1938. Plans are to host live performances and films for audiences of 600 to 900, filling a mid-size gap between the landmark Coronado Performing Arts Center and the Nordlof Center stages north and south of the Times, respectively, on Main Street.

ROCKFORD – Schools in Rockford and Harlem will soon see a combined $100,000 in updates thanks to funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced Thursday.

“We are providing these schools with the necessary funds for improvements to their facilities that will allow them to better serve students,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “Improving buildings and investing in projects for our schools ensures we are always looking for ways to facilitate better learning environments for all students.”

A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants was distributed to districts across the state. To be eligible for the grants, applicants were required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.

ROCKFORD – Ray Wantz Memorial Playground will see over $300,000 in funding announced by State Senator Steve Stadelman in order to celebrate Parks and Recreation Month in Illinois.

“Investment into our parks is an investment to the health and wellbeing of our community,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford) “Maintaining these public spaces gives residents greater abilities to enjoy and socialize while also encouraging everyone to get outside and get physically active.”

Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program grants are administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and support local park projects. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.