ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is encouraging local businesses struggling from the pandemic to apply to the latest round of the Back to Business grant program before tomorrow’s deadline.

Overall, the B2B program will provide $250 million in American Rescue Plan dollars for small businesses that have been negatively impacted by the pandemic. Grants will range from $5,000 to $150,000 per business and can be used in a variety of ways to cover costs, such as staff and overhead expenses.

 “Following a financially rough year of pandemic-related losses, small businesses need our help,” Stadelman said. “Don’t wait – the deadline to apply for these business-saving grants is around the corner. Apply today.”

ROCKFORD – Six projects totaling nearly $30 million to improve roadway safety while creating jobs are coming to the Rockford area, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) announced Thursday.

 “Infrastructure is a key component of our economy, and we need to ensure our roadways, pathways, and other means of transportation are up to date.” Stadelman said. “The Rebuild Illinois plan is investing in our infrastructure to improve our day to day travel, as well as providing many people in our region with good paying jobs.”

The $29.7 million investment is part of the third year of the Rebuild Illinois program Stadelman was proud to support. Updates made to Interstate 39/U.S. 51 over Kilbuck Creek in Ogle County, and S. 20 over the Kishwaukee River in Cherry Valley were finalized in June thanks to the funding.

SPRINGFIELD – Following the passage of a groundbreaking renewable energy package that preserves local jobs at the Byron Generating Station nuclear plant, creates new career opportunities in the energy sector and trains workers for the future of the industry, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) released the following statement:

“Thousands of people across the state rely on power plants for their livelihoods, including many employees at the Byron nuclear plant on Rockford’s back doorstep. As we make the transition to green energy, we have to make sure these Illinoisans aren’t left in the dark.

“I’m proud to support an energy transition plan that prioritizes economic stability for our working families in the long term, protecting existing jobs while training our labor force to seize the opportunities of the future of energy.

“Illinois is now on the path toward an independent and prosperous power generation industry that values the people at Byron Generating Station and across the state who go to work every day to keep our lights on.”

ROCKFORD – Today, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) joined his colleagues to protect and create tens of thousands of jobs while setting Illinois on a path toward clean energy for the state.

“This is a smart investment in the future of Illinois,” Stadelman said. “We are saving thousands of well-payingjobs as well as creating tens of thousands of long-term, good-paying renewable energy jobs.”

The legislation, SB 18 invests in the thousands of people who work at nuclear plants, including at Byron near Rockford, that rely on these jobs for their livelihoods. Ensuring these plants stay open provides economic stability for that the people who work there and allows Illinois to generate its own carbon-free energy instead of importing from fossil-fuel burning plants in other states.

In addition, the measure would help train thousands of people for good-paying jobs in the clean energy economy, as well as making an investment in solar energy by incentivizing construction of large-scale solar facilities across the state. The creation of a number of statewide programs will help train workers for these new clean energy jobs, providing a solid pipeline for people to move into the growing renewable energy sector.