$1.2 million more in pandemic relief coming to local restaurants, hotels: Stadelman
Thanks to the advocacy of State Senator Steve Stadelman, two dozen restaurants and hotels in and around Rockford still struggling to recover from the global pandemic will receive $1,228,157 in Back to Business grants.
“We are still feeling the impact of the troublesome years of the pandemic,” Stadelman said. “Through the B2B program, we continue to show local restaurants and hotels that Illinois has their backs.”
B2B provides recovery grants to small businesses with an emphasis on those in the hardest hit industries. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, B2B has award more than $535 million in COVID relief to more than 15,000 businesses statewide.
“Words alone can’t describe how much relief this B2B grant means for us," said Anthony DiTullio, owner of DiTullio’s Italian Market & Cafe in Rockford. "It’s a much-needed lifeline that will help us get through these ever-changing times and tough challenges we face as small business operators. We’re so grateful to Senator Stadelman.”
Restaurants and hotels in and around the Rockford area receiving Back to Business grants include:
| Gyro House | Taco N Madres Restaurant |
| Schiro's | Giordano's of Rockford |
| La Casa Boricua | DiTullio's INC |
| Matt's Baseball Tap, LLC | DIYogurt, INC |
| Rockford Roasting Company, LLC | Dejuan Restaurant |
| SUBWAY | Stone Eagle Tavern INC |
| Holiday Inn Express | Sunset Motel |
| Alpine Inn | Radisson Hotel and Conference Center |
| IB Rockford Hotel Partners, LLC | Rockford and Candlewood Suites Rockford |
| M & M Motel Inc | Motel6/Studio6 |
| OG Rockford FFI LLC | Budget Inn |
| Shreeji Bapa Motel Inc | Holiday Inn |
To learn more about grant recipients and the B2B program, visit the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.
HoopStars registration open now until Labor Day
Free 3-on-3 youth tourney still going strong into its 9th year
Basketball players in 5th- through 8th-grades can sign up to compete in Senator Stadelman’s HoopStars, a free 3-on-3 Labor Day tournament.
State Senator Steve Stadelman announced today that online registration will remain open through game day at www.senatorstadelman.
HoopStars has drawn hundreds of players and hundreds more cheering spectators since Stadelman launched the tournament in 2013, his first year in office. The inaugural games took place at Patriots Gateway, then HoopStars moved outdoors to Davis Park until 2017 when UW Sports Factory became its home. The event returned last year after a two-year, pandemic-forced hiatus.
"Players and their families appreciate having this positive, no-cost activity as summer ends and the school year begins,” Stadelman said. "Teams sports can play an important role in youth development, and I'm proud to see HoopStars endure as a Labor Day tradition."
Doors at the Sports Factory open at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 4. Registration ends at 11 a.m., with the first games starting at noon. All players receive free commemorative T-shirts, and winners take home medals.
Steve Stadelman
August 16 at 4:25 PM
Congratulations to Milestone, Inc. on its 50th anniversary celebration today, which included the unveiling of an outdoor bench in honor of former CEO Shawn Way. Senator Dave Syverson and I offered a joint proclamation to be buried in a time capsule beside the bench.
Steve Stadelman is at Blackhawk Park
August 13 at 10:14 AM
A lot of students are sporting new backpacks thanks to 'A Ministry of Restoration' and Pastor Ruby Martin and their 13th annual school supply giveaway!
Steve Stadelman
August 11 at 11:21 AM
Thanks to everyone who stopped by our booth at the Boone County Fair! Enjoyed a lot of good conversations over 6 days!
