News Flash

The Snow Emergency, including odd/even parking, is now canceled. 

The Snow Emergency, including odd/even parking, is now canceled. 

The Human Rights Campaign recently released its annual Municipal Equality Index (MEI) scorecard. The MEI examines the laws, policies and services of municipalities and rates them on the basis of their inclusivity of LGBTQ people who live and work in the city. The City has participated in the scorecard since 2018 and has improved by 41 points. For 2025, the City scored 100/100 for the fourth year in a row.

Among other things, the City has adopted a Non-Discrimination Ordinance for City contractors; included transgender-inclusive healthcare benefits; established a Community Relations Commission to address issues of equality, equity and discrimination; proclaimed June as LGBTQ Pride Month; and created LGBTQIA+ Liaisons for both the City and the Rockford Police Department.  "The MEI Scorecard serves as a vital benchmark, offering cities a way to track their progress and ensure accountability," says Mayor Tom McNamara. "We’re proud to be a city that reflects equality and representation for the LGBTQ+ community.”

View the full survey at www.hrc.org/mei.

The 2025 MEI is the fourteenth annual edition and rates a total of 506 cities on 49 different criteria from every state in the nation. The MEI is the only comprehensive nationwide assessment of LGBTQ+ equality in the areas of municipal policies, laws and services.

The City of Rockford is proud to announce it has been awarded a 2025 Gold Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA) for the second year in a row.

MHA is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being and illness prevention for all. MHA has spent decades researching mental health in the workplace and introduced in 2019 the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health to recognize companies and organizations that understand the value of addressing mental health at work and implement policies and practices that support employee well-being.

The Bell Seal recognizes employer advances in workplace mental health by awarding Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum recognition levels. Only 2 in 5 employers meet the standards for Bell Seal certification. The City underwent a rigorous evaluation of its policies and practices in four areas: workplace culture, benefits, compliance, and wellness programs. 

“Supporting the mental health of our employees is not only the right thing to do—it’s a smart investment in the overall well-being and success of our organization,” says Mayor Tom McNamara. “Earning the Bell Seal certification reflects our continued dedication to fostering a workplace that prioritizes mental health and employee wellness.”

Learn more about MHA and the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health at mhanational.org/bestemployers.

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