ROCKFORD – To help small businesses recover from the pandemic, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) assisted with bringing over $4 million in funding to local businesses.

“Local businesses have bared the brunt of the pandemic, and we are ensuring they have the funds needed to stay operational,” Stadelman said. “Support our local businesses whenever possible — we have all been struggling through the past year, and it’s time to do our part to help them out.”

A total of $4.53 million was awarded to 91 businesses in the 34^th district. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awards business grants through the B2B program, using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

DCEO has provided $250 million in B2B grants – thanks to strong support from Stadelman – to small businesses throughout the state, with an emphasis on hard hit sectors, such as hotels, restaurants, bars, barbershops and salons, and disproportionately impacted areas.

“From our restaurants, to our barbershops, Illinois is ensuring that small businesses impacted over the past two years are receiving help,” Stadelman said. “I encourage any businesses still feeling overwhelmed to seek assistance if needed, and I will continue my efforts to support our local businesses.”

With support from Stadelman, the state has seen six Illinois’ General Obligation bond rating upgrades in the last year from all three of the nation’s primary credit rating agencies. The latest two-notch upgrade comes as a result of the state paying down its bill backlog from over $16 billion to less than $3 billion in a course of just a few years.

Due to fiscal responsibility, the state saw an increase in funds available to assist small businesses.

Stadelman urges business owners to visit the DCEO website for more small business resources or contact DCEO’s First Stop Business Information Center Services at 800-252-2923 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased to announce that the Four Rivers Sanitation Authority in Winnebago County will be receiving more than $20 million in water infrastructure funding.

“This investment toward our infrastructure is part of the state’s ongoing efforts to provide water safety and to protect our communities,” Stadelman said. “The funds will be used to improve and ensure our water treatment plant is operating in a clean and functional way.”

The funds come from the Illinois EPA's State Revolving Fund Program, which includes the Water Pollution Control Loan Program and the Public Water Supply Loan Program. These programs provide low-interest loans to fund wastewater, stormwater and drinking water projects.

The Four Rivers Sanitation Authority will use the funds to replace primary settling tanks, pumps, filters, and other equipment necessary to complete the project. This will help the sanitation authority comply with applicable regulations.

“These upgrades and replacements represent the steps Illinois is taking to protect our environment and the community as a whole,” Stadelman said. “I am happy to announce this project and the progress we are making in Winnebago County.”

Projects are funded throughout the state through the Rebuild Illinois program, and recipients will receive an interest rate of 1.11% for both wastewater and drinking water loans. Find more information about Illinois EPA’s SRF program here.

SPRINGFIELD – Those without health insurance could receive information on available state health insurance with a check of a box thanks to a measure sponsored by State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) that passed through the Illinois Senate on Friday.

“This change will allow many without health insurance to obtain information on available state health insurance options that they may not have known existed,” Stadelman said. “Knowing your available options is the first step for many people to get covered and it’s as simple as checking a box on a form.”

House Bill 5142 would establish a health insurance “easy enrollment” program by including a checkbox on all Illinois income tax forms that taxpayers may check to request more information on available health insurance options and prices.

SPRINGFIELD – To help service members who are transitioning from active duty to the workforce, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) passed a measure to designate the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs as the primary assistance agency under the U.S. SkillBridge Program that helps employers find skilled workers.

“We need to assist our military members in returning to the workforce and centralize the resources available to veterans,” Stadelman said. “By using this designation, veterans can find their benefits the same place they find job placement assistance and continue working and serving their community.”

Currently, the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs refers veterans seeking employment assistance to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. House Bill 5385 would designate IDVA as the primary statewide assistance organization under the U.S. Department of Defense’s SkillBridge Program, which matches service members who are transitioning from active duty with workforce development opportunities at participating employers.

ROCKFORD – The Back 2 Business program has awarded more than $3.4 million in funding to several local businesses in Rockford thanks to advocacy from State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford).

“Businesses need our support, and this grant money will continue the efforts into helping businesses make a full recovery and get back on their feet,” Stadelman said. “The assistance from the Back 2 Business program has provided meaningful help and funds that keep our communities afloat and I am happy to see Rockford businesses receiving this assistance.”

The B2B grants are awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity using funds allocated to them by the American Rescue Plan through last year’s state budget.

ROCKFORD – Thanks to support from State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) three local museums will receive a combined $838,000 to make improvements and create new exhibits.   

“Museums provide extraordinary opportunities for education and are great environments to explore and learn about our history,” Stadelman said. “The grants going to these museums will provide the resources necessary to serve the community.”

The Department of Natural Resources announced three museums in Rockford that will be receiving grants. The Rockford Art Museum will receive $301,000, the Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens will receive $104,000, and the Discovery Center Museum will receive $433,000.

SPRINGFIELD – Leading legislation to give survivors of abuse more comfort and accessibility filing a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) hosted a press conference Wednesday to bring more awareness to the ongoing issues survivors face.  

“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors the opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”

Stadelman’s measure would give people the option to file a protective order either online or in-person. The measure would also require any court in a county with a population above 250,000 to offer the option of a remote hearing to the petitioner for a protective order.

MEDIA ADVISORY — SPRINGFIELD — Survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault often face immense pressure when taking the courageous step to file an order of protection against their abuser.

To give survivors a safer, more comfortable way to file for a protective order, State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is leading a measure to allow people to request such documentation through virtual means. He will discuss how it will impact survivors at a press conference Wednesday.

“The weight of trauma a survivor carries becomes detrimental as they struggle to cope with grief and take the steps necessary to begin to heal,” Stadelman said. “By giving survivors an opportunity to file for protective orders at their own pace in the safety of their own home, we are giving them the keys to move forward.”