Stadelman helps deliver $4.5 million in pandemic relief to local business

To help small businesses still struggling to recover from the pandemic, State Senator Steve Stadelman has assisted in bringing $4.53 million in funding to the Rockford, Loves Park and Machesney Park.

Awards went to 91 businesses in the 34^th District that Stadelman represents. 

Statewide, Illinois has provided $250 million in Back 2 Business grants with an emphasis on disproportionately impacted areas and hard-hit sectors like hotels, restaurants, bars, barbershops and salons.

“Local businesses have bared the brunt of the pandemic, and we are ensuring they have the funds needed to stay operational,” Stadelman said.

DCEO allocates federal funds award to Illinois under the American Rescue Plan.

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State credit rating upgraded again

Illinois has earned another two upgrades in its bond rating, bringing to six the total number of upgrades issued by Wall Street's three rating agencies during the last year. According to State Senator Steve Stadelman, the upgrades demonstate sustained fiscal responsibility that has resulted in Illinois paying down its bill backlog from over $16 billion to less than $3 billion in less than four years.

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Rockford among cities eligible for $113 million in anti-violence funding

Rockford and 15 other Illinois communities outside Chicago are eligible to receive $113 million in funding to work on violence prevention and interruption. The second round of grant applications  builds on $73 million already distributed by the Illinois Department of Human Services.

State Senator Steve Stadelman urged local organizations interested in the second round of funding to take advantage of free IDHS resources, including navigator and technical assistance programs, webinars and a Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) app.

The funding is part of the Reimagine Public Safety Act, a multi-pronged approach to violence prevention that calls for research-backed services like summer and afterschool programming, job training and placement, high-risk youth intervention services, violence interruption, case management and trauma-informed mental health care supported by Medicaid.

Local organizations that provide desired services can apply. Grants are being awarded on rolling basis to expedite funding.

“Illinois has embarking on an unprecendented effort to break the cycle of violence that grips communities across our state," Stadelman said. "Real public safety means addressing root causes of violence on the front lines, and that means experts in Rockford determining how to best treat the problem."

Eligible communites are those where firearm violence is most concentrated -- 26 neighborhoods in Chicago and 16 suburbs and downtown cities.

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Two weeks left to apply for mortgage assistance

Are you at risk of losing your home to foreclosure? Find out how you can receive up to $30,000 in free assistance from the state of Illinois to get caught up on your housing payments. Eligible recipients do NOT have to pay the money back. Learn more at IllinoisHousingHelp.org. The application period opened in mid-April and closes at 11:59 p.m. May 31.
 

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In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman
Today at 3:08 PM 

Congratulations to Stepping Stones of Rockford on the ribbon cutting for its new outpatient Counseling Center on Maray Drive! It will serve children and adults with severe emotional disturbances or serious mental illness. The facility is possible thanks to Winnebago County voters who approved using sales tax money to fund important mental health and substance abuse services.

Steve Stadelman
May 10 at 1:36 PM 

This #NationalNursesWeek, reach out a nurse to thank them for their hard work over the past two years to care for us and our loved ones through the pandemic. Now more than ever, we are grateful for their kindness, compassion and sacrifice. #ThankYouNurses