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.

SPRINGFIELD – To help service members who are transitioning from active duty to the workforce, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) championed a law to designate the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs as the primary assistance agency under the U.S. SkillBridge Program that helps employers find skilled workers.

“We are assisting former military residents with transitioning back into the workforce by creating a hub of resources for them to use,” Stadelman said. “Through IDVA, veterans will find assistance where they can find benefits as well, and work toward returning to a job that fulfils them.”

The program was recently suggested by the AAR Corp. to help transition veterans to jobs within similar fields and to assist with efforts in increasing the workforce at the Rockford Airport.

House Bill 5385 designates IDVA as the primary statewide assistance organization under the U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program, which matches service members who are transitioning from active duty with workforce development opportunities at participating employers.

ROCKFORD – To encourage students to continue their educational growth this summer State Senator Steve Stadelman has launched a Summer Reading Club for children and young people in Rockford.

“We put together an excellent opportunity for children and young students to continue to stay active with their education this summer,” Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. “This program is aiming to help students create a habit of reading and prepare them for their next school year.”

The Summer Book Club requires students to read eight books of their choice during the summer break, record the names of the books on a form and return the form to Stadelman’s office by Aug. 19. Everyone who completes the Summer Book Club will be invited to a pizza party hosted by Senator Stadelman.

ROCKFORD – The City of Rockford will be seeing an investment of over $720,000 in improvements headed to the Coronado Performing Arts Center to preserve and repair the nearly 95-year-old landmark's facade thanks to support from State Senator Steve Stadelman of the states major infrastructure plans.

"The restoration of the Coronado was an early catalyst in the revival of downtown Rockford that has occurred over the last two decades and that is essential to our economic growth as a region," Stadelman (D-Rockford) said. "Public affection for the Coronado drove its successful rebirth at the turn of the 21st century, and I believe strongly in protecting that investment."

A total of $720,265 has been allocated to the city of Rockford through the next distribution of Rebuild Illinois program grants, and the project in Rockford aims to stabilize and restore the façade of Coronado Performing Arts Center. The Rebuild Illinois program is also investing $1,480,730 into Loves Park for water main extension projects.