ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is highlighting that Midway Village & Museum Center, Discovery Center Museum of Rockford, Harry and Della Burpee Museum Association and Winnebago County will receive more than $1 million in combined grants to improve their facilities and develop new exhibits.

"Museums tell a story about the past, and remembering our past is crucial for shaping our present and future,” Stadelman said. “Learning about our state’s history is an important part of being an Illinoisan, and I’m glad more people will have that opportunity because of this funding.”

The Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources through the state’s multi-year capital program, is open to any museum operated by local government or located on municipally-owned land. The maximum grant award for the projects announced Wednesday was $750,000 and matching funds are required in many cases based on museum attendance levels.

“The Discovery Center, Burpee and Midway Village Museums attract thousands of visitors each year,” Stadelman said. “This grant program is making an investment in the Rockford community, which will spark economic growth in our community.”

More information on the Illinois Public Museum Capital Grants Program is available on the IDNR website at https://www2.illinois.gov/dnr/grants/Pages/Museum-Capital-Grants.aspx.

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is urging local fire marshals to apply for The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s Small Equipment Grant program.

“This is another great opportunity for local fire departments and ambulance services to continue to best serve our community,” Stadelman said. “As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, additional funding for our first responders is needed more than ever to help keep them safe.”

ROCKFORD – The Illinois Department of Transportation announced Friday that over $350 million in funding is set to be allocated as part of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Project. State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased to announced that the Rockford Mass Transit District will receive a portion of those funds.

“The Rebuild Illinois project is a great way for the state to make much needed and  long-overdue infrastructure improvements, and I’m pleased that the Rockford Mass Transit District will be receiving a grant,” Stadelman said. “Every day, thousands of people rely on the RMTD to get to and from home, work or school or to visit one of the countless local businesses that make our city great. With this grant, they’ll be able to provide a better and safer experience for riders, which is even more crucial during a global pandemic that is causing people to rethink their travel habits.”

IDOT will provide the RMTD with $6.85 million, which will be used for various maintenance related projects including:

• The purchase of new paratransit units and alternative fuel buses to replace existing vehicles that have reached the end of their lifespan;
• The purchase of technology, including radios, computer tablets, cameras and automatic passengers counters, to help enhance safety, improve operation connectivity, and streamline the process of transferring to the Stateline Mass Transit District; and
• The design, construction, purchase and installation of various electric and power equipment to reduce levels of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emission.

“These funds will go a long way toward helping the Rockford Mass Transit District provide a more modern, efficient service that will greatly benefit those who use the system as well as the city of Rockford as a whole,” Stadelman said.

Friday’s announcement was the first of three grant distribution cycles, with the subsequent two scheduled to be released in 2021 and 2023. A full list of grant recipients from the first cycle can be found here.

ROCKFORD – State Senator Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) is pleased to report that the Illinois Department of Transportation announced Friday that I-39 resurfacing and two other major projects that will enhance safety while helping to grow the regional economy are wrapping up.

The projects represent a total investment of more than $55 million in the region.

“These projects helped create jobs and set the Rockford region up for economic opportunity for years to come,” Stadelman said. “Maintaining our roads and bridges is vitally important.”