Stadelman secures $500,000 to help reclaim vacant manufacturing site
State Senator Steve Stadelman this week praised a $4 million public-private redevelopment of the once-iconic Rockford Screw Products on the southeast side as "much needed rescue of a shuttered brown field site in a disadvantaged part of town."
Stadelman delivered $500,000 in state capital funding, which combines with municipal Tax Increment Financing to make the rehab by First Midwest Group possible.
"Projects like this are environmentally friendly and help stabilize aging neighborhoods," Stadleman said. "Rockford has too many abandoned industrial buildings, and I'm all for repurposing them." Investments like
Founded in 1929, the screw manufacturer at one time employed 650 workers at its plant on Harrison Avenue at Kishwaukee Street. The building has been empty since what later became Rockford Products closed in 2012,
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Stadelman announces more than $300,000 in park improvements
Ray Wantz Memorial Playground in Loves Park will receive $315,000 in state funds funding announced, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced during Parks and Recreation Month in Illinois.
“Our parks are an investment in the health and wellbeing of our community,” Stadelman said. “Maintaining these public spaces gives residents important opportuntiies to get outdoors to relax, socialize or be physically active."
The state funds are being award to the Rockford Park District through the Open Space Land Acquisition and Development program within the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. When combined with local matching funds, the latest OSLAD grants provide more than $56 million in local park development projects and land acquisitions statewide.
Learn more about OSLAD grants and see a full list of projects on the Illinois DNR website.
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$100,000 headed to Rockford, Harlem schools for HVAC, accessibilty work
Rockford and Harlem school districts soon will see a combined $100,000 in building updates thanks to funding from the Illinois State Board of Education, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week.
“Student’s environments affect their learning” Stadelman said. “These projects will ensure our schools can foster good learning environments that will help students thrive."
A total of $30 million in 2022 School Maintenance Grants is being distributed across the state. To be eligible for the grants, school districts are required to match the state funds and commit to completing proposed projects within two years.
Grants of $50,000 each for Rockford and Harlem will pay for heating, cooling and ventilation upgrades along with assessibility improvements. A full list of grantees and awards can be viewed on the ISBE website.
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