Work continues toward retooling Belvidere assembly plant

Governor says Illinois in 'good position' to keep Stellantis here

Dear Friends,

I've been working this week on a third round of incentives to attract and retain electric vehicle production, giving even more reason for Stellantis to retool its Belvidere assembly plant. We hope to have the package approved next month. 

This third EV bill comes after last year's Reimaging Electric Vehicles Act and a second round of incentives last month, both of which I sponsored and passed in the Illinois General Assembly. 

Gov. JB Pritzker was asked yesterday about last week's decision by Stellantis to idle the Belvidere plant. The governor's response underscores the strong push being made to ensure the impending shutdown is temporary and the plant has a secure future:

"We’re aggressively talking to every EV manufacturer that we can talk to -- and that’s most of them in the country and outside the country," Pritzker said. "Although they intend to idle that factory, it’s in part because Jeep Cherokee has come down as a priority for Stellantis in terms of their sales. And so they’re looking for repurposing, what are they going to do on that spot. So we’ve been working with them for quite some time to try to make sure that they have an opportunity to put back to work the people who are at the current Jeep Cherokee plant."

The governor added that plants manufacturing electric vehicles require larger footprints than those producing gasoline-fueled vehicles, which bodes well for Belvidere: "Fortunately, they have enough land there," he said. "So I think we're in a good position to help them get to what is the next phase of manufacturing in Belvidere."

You can listen to the governor's full remarks here. His comments regarding Stellantis start at the 1-minute mark.

Sincerely,

Steve Stadelman
State Senator, 34th District
 

Charity basketball tournament celebrates 10th year

Robinson, Danforth, Stadelman headline roster of celebrity players 

What began in 2011 as an exercise in community building and evolved to include a toy and coat giveaway celebrates its 10th year Sunday with a celebrity-filled "Main Event" game and halftime show.

JD Danforth, pro trainer for NBA star Fred Van Vleet, State Senator Steve Stadelman and Jefferson High School Head Basketball Coach LC Robinson top the list of celebrity players in the 10th Annual Blazo Local Influencer Basketball Game 2022. Admission is free for children 11 years and younger or $10 for everyone else.
 
WHAT: Blazo Local Influencer basketball event
WHEN: 3-8 PM SUNDAY DECEMBER 18
WHERE: Seaver Center Gym at Rockford University, 5050 E. State St.

Organized since its inception by Mike "Blazo" Relerford, the basketball event got its start in 2011 when a group of locally popular musicians, comics and barbers faced off in the gym of the former YWCA in downtown Rockford. The goal was merely to offer an entertaining afternoon that brought people together and boosted community spirit. A coat and toy giveaway came a few years later with more attractions being added as the event continued to grow.
 
"My love for both basketball and my city played a major role in me te people with divergent backgrounds.

"Basketball draws together people from different walks of life who share the same passion," he said. "I admire Mike for his ingenuity, determination and desire to give back to his community."
 
Sunday's event also features food vendors, youth competitions and a 3-point contest with a 6 p.m. start for the "Main Event" game.
 



No photo description available.

Stadelman competes in "Blazo" charity basketball event in 2019.
 

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman
1d

No photo description available. Small Business Advocacy Council

Thank you to the following Senators for supporting local chambers of commerce and sponsoring HB4993! Ram Villivalam, Kimberly Lightford, Senator AdrianeJohnson, Senator Cristina Castro,Linda Holmes,Sara Feigenholtz, State Senator, Senator Napoleon B Harris III,State Senator Meg Loughran Cappel,State Senator Mattie Hunter,State Senator Karina Villa,Former State Senator John Connor,State Senator Steve Stadelman, State Senator Laura Fine,State Senator Cristina H Pacione-Zayas,Senator Robert Martwick,State Senator Laura Murphy,State Senator Julie Morrison,State Senator Celina Villanueva,Senator Dave Syverson, andSenator Javier Cervantes.

Learn more about HB4993 here:
Advocacy Initiatives

Dear Friends,

Thank you to Executive Director Tonia Lamia and the Parks Chamber of Commerce for the invitation to participate in its Legislative Events Series. I discussed the state's dramatically improved financial position over the last five years and outlined my priorities for securing the future of the Stellantis assembly plant in Belvidere and restoring passenger rail service between Chicago and Rockford.