By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members on Tuesday approved a new initiative that aims to bring people together and support local businesses in their continued recovery from the pandemic.
Aldermen voted 13-0 to move ahead with the Forward for Fun initiative, which allocates thousands of dollars to each of the city’s 14 wards to create free events this spring and summer.
The goal is to connect residents following more than two years of the pandemic while supporting businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the city.
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Rockford will allocate $75,000 for the program, which it hopes to match with $75,000 in private funds. Each ward would get $10,500 to be spent on the events. The city’s share of the funding comes from the American Rescue Plan, the federal coronavirus stimulus package.
Mayor Tom McNamara said last week that events could start as soon as April or May.
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This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas.