ROCKFORD -- Work will begin next month on new exhibit and community meeting space inside a restored barn, carriage and stables at Heritage Park Museum Campus as a result of $50,000 being awarded through State Senator Steve Stadelman to fund the project's first phase. It's part of $1.64 million in Rebuild Illinois capital funds that are being or recently have been released to 28 local nonprofits designed by Stadelman to receive state grants.

Stadelman formed a partnership with United Way of the Rock River Valley to allow Rebuild Illinois funds he designated for local nonprofit organizations to be awarded more quickly and to ease the grant application and reporting process for the smaller nonprofits. Of the $1.64 total, $895,000 already has been released to nonprofits for completed infrastructure projects with another $745,000 being distributed to projects that are under way or pending.

"I cannot thank United Way enough for its help in accessing and distributing these much-needed infrastructure dollars to so many deserving nonprofits that fulfill an array of vital needs," Stadelman said during a news conference on the museum campus today . "We are fortunate to have a diverse nonprofit network in our community -- but brick and mortar work is challenging to finance for businesses and families, especially in the post-pandemic era, and our nonprofits are no different."

ROCKFORD – Fulfilling the evidence-based funding commitment for Illinois schools, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced that school districts in the 34th District will receive over $13 million additional dollars to help address the financial challenges schools have faced.

“Our students deserve the best educational opportunities, and by offering evidence-based funding, we are ensuring our schools have the funding they need,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “I am glad that Illinois is investing in the future and providing every child the opportunity to succeed.”

The funding comes from the 2017 Illinois Senate Democrat-backed evidence-based funding formula — an overhaul of the way the state funds K-12 education. The law made school funding more equitable by calculating the needs of individual school districts and basing its state revenue on those needs. The formula takes into account a district’s total enrollment, poverty rate and number of special education or English language learners, among other factors.

Local schools set to receive funding through the formula:

• Belvidere Community Unit School District 100: $2,841,080
• Rockford Public Schools: $10,214,014
• Alternative and Safe Schools (Boone-Winnebago Regional Office of Education): $36,504

The Fiscal Year 2025 budget invested $350 million in new funding into students’ success through the evidence-based funding model.

For more information on the FY 25 evidence-based funding distribution, visit the Illinois State Board of Education’s website.

SPRINGFIELD – Driver education courses must now include instruction on worker safety protocol in highway construction zones, thanks to a new law championed by State Senator Steve Stadelman.

“Ensuring the safety of workers in highway construction zones is of utmost importance,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By integrating these safety protocols into driver education, we are taking a proactive step to protect both drivers and construction workers. This law will help reduce accidents and fatalities, making our roads safer for everyone.”

In order to reduce accidents and protect the lives of both drivers and construction workers, the law requires public school districts to educate new drivers on the critical safety protocols necessary in highway construction zones.

“Our goal is to foster a culture of safety and awareness on our roads,” said Stadelman. “By instilling these values in new drivers from the beginning, we are laying the groundwork for safer driving habits that will benefit everyone on the road in the long term.”

Senate Bill 3151 was signed into law Friday and goes into effect immediately.

SPRINGFIELD – A new law championed by State Senator Steve Stadelman will combat Illinois’ shrinking newsrooms and support aspiring journalists.

“Local journalism is the heartbeat of our communities, shining a light on local issues in a way corporate media isn’t interested in,” said Stadelman (D-Rockford). “By requiring notice prior to the sale of a local news organization, we are creating an opportunity to protect the livelihoods of employees and preserving the continuity of community-focused journalism.”

To address the steady decline of local journalism, Stadelman’s law requires local news organizations to notify its employees and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity 120 days before the organization is sold. The goal is to give other businesses, newspapers and nonprofits the opportunity to acquire the publication, preserving local journalism and preventing its sale to a private equity firm.