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Details: Friday, July 23, 2021 04:34 PM

Stadelman: $6 million in COVID funds available to Loves, Machesney

Smaller cities, towns and villages across Illinois that have not already recived aid from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) now can apply for their share of more than $742 million to cover expenses involved in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Loes Park and Machesney Park each have approximately $3 million available to them, State Senator Steve Stadelman announced this week.

To assist local governments in obtaining their allotments, the State of Illinois has established a website portal. Municipalities completing the portal submission, including all of the documentation required by the U.S. Treasury, can expect to receive half of their funding in approximately 30 days with the remaining half roughly a year later. First payments are expected to be made in August.

Congress and the Biden administration earlier this year established the Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund to provide a critical source of relief for local governments, including smaller governments which have not received direct fiscal assistance through ARPA since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Illinois and other states are receiving funding from the U.S. Treasury to distribute to smaller local governments on a per-capita basis, while larger cities and counties already have received funding directly from the federal government. Rockford received approximately $54 million in its first installment.

Eligible local governments include cities, towns and villages serving populations of less than 50,000 that did not receive direct aid from ARPA. Overall, Illinois is home to 1,252 of these so-called Non-Entitlement Units of local government (NEUs).

Broader broadband access good for greater Rockford area

State Sen. Steve Stadelman congratulated the Region 1 Planning Council on winning an important grant to help expand broadband access throughout the Northern Stateline region, which includes the Rockford area. Stadelman's remarks this week were in response to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity releasing the first list of grant recipients for the Broadband Regional Engagement for Adoption + Digital Equity (READY).

“Internet access is becoming as important as telephones and electricity for many citizens, and Illinois is looking to get them connected with better speeds,” Stadelman said. “High speed internet will help many people in the Rockford area work and search for work, connect families and help students who need access to educational information.”

The inaugural READY program is a first of its kind, with $200,000 already awarded to four regional entities to accelerate progress in eliminating the digital divide. The program is meant to fuel local efforts to increase digital equity for homeowners and citizens who lack access to high-speed internet. READY grantees may use funds to expand immediate broadband connectivity, conduct outreach and engagement to identify current digital inequities, and establish next steps toward creating a digital inclusion ecosystem.

“Region 1 Planning Council is grateful for the opportunity to bring partners together as a part of the Broadband READY program,” said Region 1 Planning Council Executive Director Michael Dunn, Jr. “Focusing on the elimination of the digital divide in Winnebago & Boone Counties, DCEO’s funding helps establish a regional action plan as well as funding Rockford Public Library’s launch of a Chromebook and hot-spot lending program for its patrons. The READY program will help our region take practical steps toward closing the digital divide and enhancing broadband access, adoption and use.”

$9 million 'navigator' investment will benefit local businesses: Stadelman

State Senator Steve Stadelman wants local small businesses to know that an expanded state service is available to help them access economic recovery grant programs. Illinois has invested an additional $9 million in the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity community navigator outreach program, with new partners serving the Rockford area.

“Our local businesses are working hard to rebuild financial stability as we move out of the pandemic,” Stadelman said. “I urge owners and managers to work with a navigator if they need help finding funding to help them return to normalcy.”

This expansion to the existing community navigator program leverages 13 organizations that will provide support for small businesses that require assistance applying for to receive the billions of financial assistance dollars that are available. Community navigators will perform intensive outreach to ensure that small and hard-to-reach businesses are aware of economic relief funds.

DCEO trained 13 new regional partners to facilitate technical assistance for small businesses on a grassroots level. These 13 organizations, which were selected through a competitive process, will work with over 100 community-based organizations based in low-to-moderate-income areas. The American Business Immigrant Coalition and Illinois Public Health Association will coordinate efforts in Winnebago County.

To ensure the smallest and most vulnerable businesses are prioritized, navigator partners will provide small businesses with direct assistance on applications as well as language assistance, on-the-ground outreach, webinars and technical assistance sessions. For more information on recovery programs and how to receive support, businesses can call the First Stop hotline at 1-800-252-2923.

In case you missed me on Facebook ...

Steve Stadelman
July 16 at 8:11 PM

Thanks to the Rockford Rivets for letting me throw the first pitch at tonight's game! I was just happy to hit the catcher's mitt.