State incentives pay off with tenative agreement to reopen Belvidere Assembly Plant
State Senator Steve Stadelman this week credited financial incentives he sponsored and passed in the Illinois General Assembly with laying the groundwork for Stellantis and the United Auto Workers coming to terms on a new contact that would reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant.
The tentative deal, which awaits union approval, calls for Stellantis to invest a reported $5 billion to expand the Belvidere plant to compete in the electric vehicle market. In reaching the accord, Stellantis also ends a strike that had become the longest against major automakers in 25 years.
"I'm excited by UAW's announcement of a labor deal that will reopen the Belvidere Assembly Plant to begin manufacturing a new truck product and expand operations to include a new battery plant," Stadelman said. "This is what I've been working with state and local leaders toward for two years -- securing the plant's future and saving the thousands of jobs that support families across Boone and Winnebago counties."
Stadelman sponsored and passed in 2021 the Reimagining Energy and Vehicles in Illinois Act in 2021, a historic stimulus package offering tax credits and other incentives to attract manufacturers of electric vehicles, batteries and other EV components and parts. More recent efforts included the creation of a $400 million Large Business Attraction Fund to empower Illinois to become a global magnet for EV technology.
Senator Stadelman rallies with striking UAW workers last month at Stellantis'
Belvidere Assembly Plant.
Stadelman delivers more than $1 million for domestic violence prevention, public safety technology for Rockford
With more than $1 million in funds secured by State Senator Steve Stadelman, Rockford is forming a new Lethality Prevention Division to intensity efforts to reduce domestic violence. It's a three-pronged, multi-team strategy that ranges from refining responses to emergency strangulation calls to identifying high-risk domestic violence cases and developing intervention plans.
"Reducing crime demands a comprehensive approach," Stadelman said. "I'm encouraged by the work of the Mayor's Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention and pleased to deliver funding for this latest initiative."
Stadelman joined Rockford officials at City Hall to announce the program this week as Domestic Violence Month was drawing to a close.
"Senator Stadelman has been a tremendous supporter of our efforts," said Jennifer Cacciapaglia, executive director of the Mayor's Office of Domestic and Community Violence Prevention, which will oversee the program, "and this latest round of funding will allow us to expand our scope and have an even greater impact on reducing domestic violence in our community."
Stadelman noted that a portion of the $1 million-plus will go to Rockford Police for new technology to fight crime and improve public safety, details of which will be available in the coming weeks.
Crusader to receive nearly $250,000 in pandemic-relief funds for mental health: Stadelman
State Senator Steve Stadelman announced that Crusader Community Health is receiving more than $249,000 in funds to support post-pandemic child and adolescent health.
“This funding will help increase mental health opportunities for kids across Rockford,” Stadelman said of the Illinois Department of Public Health grants. “Developing good mental health habits is important, and increasing the resources available to local providers improves their chances for success.”
The grants, funded primarily through the federal Centers for Disease Control, are intended to help hospitals, clinics and schools improve child and adolescent health through projects that could include developing student support programs and offering specialized curriculums in areas like stress management and nutrition, hiring counselors and other mental health professionals and providing telehealth counseling and evaluation services.
“I will continue to advocate for funding that directly impacts our community and addresses mental health struggles,” Stadelman said. “Crusader plays a critical role in quality of life for many in our community, and these additional resources will allow Crusader to do more good."
More than $9 million was awarded to 40 applicants across the state through this round of funding. For more information about the grant recipients, click here.