ROCKFORD – To help small businesses recover from the pandemic, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) assisted with bringing over $4 million in funding to local businesses.

“Local businesses have bared the brunt of the pandemic, and we are ensuring they have the funds needed to stay operational,” Stadelman said. “Support our local businesses whenever possible — we have all been struggling through the past year, and it’s time to do our part to help them out.”

A total of $4.53 million was awarded to 91 businesses in the 34^th district. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awards business grants through the B2B program, using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

DCEO has provided $250 million in B2B grants – thanks to strong support from Stadelman – to small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on hard hit sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, barbershops and salons, and disproportionately impacted areas.

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased to announce that the Four Rivers Sanitation Authority in Winnebago County will be receiving more than $20 million in water infrastructure funding.

“This investment toward our infrastructure is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to provide water safety and to protect our communities,” Stadelman said. “The funds will be used to improve and ensure our water treatment plant is operating in a clean and functional way.”

The funds come from the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund Program, which includes the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program. These programs provide low-interest loans to fund wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects.

ROCKFORD – To help residents stay safe and avoid fires, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is promoting the Illinois “Be Alarmed!” Smoke Alarm Program aimed to help them identify ways to make their homes safer.  

“It is pertinent all families take the necessary precautions to keep your family safe from a fire,” Stadelman said. “The first step to avoiding a disaster is through education.”

"Be Alarmed!" is a fire safety education and smoke alarm installation program administered by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal and the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance. The program distributes fire safety education materials and 10-year sealed battery smoke alarms to fire departments throughout the state who then install the devices and provide the materials in at-risk homes.  

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) was proud to support a budget that prioritizes working families, local businesses, and the state’s hardworking students and teachers.

“This budget shows we have heard the needs of Illinoisans and we’re acting on those needs to provide them with tax relief,” Stadelman said. “This budget responds to the difficult times that many people and families are facing with the rising cost of inflation on top of the ongoing struggle to fully recover from the pandemic.”

The budget brings forth a total of $1.8 billion in tax relief for families. It addresses inflation by suspending the 1% state grocery tax for one year, and freezing the state’s portion of the gas tax increase for six months to help with rising prices at the pump.

The budget also includes measures to pay debts and ensure Illinois is spending responsibly. This budget allocates $1 billion to the Rainy Day Fund, includes