census Archives

Help Your Community, Region Count in 2020 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau for some time now is planning a vigorous marketing and outreach effort called the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau is spending $500 million on communication campaigning to broaden the awareness and participation in the important effort.

Image courtesy of U.S. Census BureauI

In late January and throughout February, paid advertising in support of the 2020 Census will begin running in print and digital formats, on television and radio, on billboards, and at transit stations. The integrated campaign will feature advertising in 13 languages and continue from January through June. The goal of the 2020 U.S. Census is to count everyone who lives in this country. It is conducted every 10 years and is required by the U.S. Constitution.

Census responses determine congressional representation in the states and inform how billions of dollars in Federal funds are distributed to states and local communities every year for critical public services and infrastructure, including health clinics, schools, roads and emergency services. Some North Central Kansas communities have missed out on resources due to Census under counts.

The households in this part of the United States will start receiving invitations by mail to respond to the 2020 Census in mid-March. Some will receive electronic mail invitations to complete simple, fast, and securely online. All can complete the one-page form online.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov. Please do your part and help others do theirs so EVERYONE living in Kansas on April 1 is counted!

This article appeared in the January 2020 NCRPC Newsletter.

Census Resources to Help You Spread the Word:

Kansas Counts (#KansasCounts, @KSCounts)
https://kansascounts.org/

Website hosted by the League of Kansas Municipalities to support 2020 Census efforts. Features one-page infographics for cities in Kansas, social media messages with images, and promotional videos.

Kansas State Data Center (@KansasSDC)
https://ipsr.ku.edu/sdc/

Factsheets and Infographics with Kansas-specific data.

Also see http://ipsr.ku.edu/ksdata/census/2020/tools/ for a gallery of tools and resources for local efforts.

Input Encouraged for Census, Kansas Framework for Growth

Viewpoint Column by Doug McKinney, NCRPC Executive Director

The U.S. Census provides vital information about our nation and about the people who live, work and utilize the resources herein.

The 2020 Census will count all residents once and in their accurate locales. It is used to determine the seats Kansas can have in the U.S. House of Representatives, how our state legislative districts are drawn and the important appropriation of Federal funding.

Image courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau

There are several ways to be counted. For the first time, in 2020 the U.S. Census Bureau will accept responses online. Responding by mail, by telephone, and by meeting with a local Census representative will also be options. A postcard is to be provided to every household. From there the choice to securely complete the process is easy. Also for the first time, the Census will be available in 13 languages spoken in Kansas and it will be in a large print and braille form.

I am willing to talk with any local official about the process and how much the Census matters to their towns. More information, including personalized profiles for cities to help tell the story of how population data affects their local community, is also available at kansascounts.org.

Another important opportunity for your input is with the Kansas Governor’s office and the Kansas Department of Commerce Framework for Growth. In late October, an official forum for North Central Kansas was held in Russell with about 40 persons engaged in providing solid and unique approaches to a comprehensive growth strategy. Let’s face it. Kansas is behind in attracting new residents, in promoting the state and in workforce development. Not since 1986 has there been a solid strategy for development in the Sunflower State. Your input is encouraged at kansasgrowth.com.

This article appeared in the November 2019 NCRPC Newsletter.

Blog Archives

Sign up for e-news!

Recent Posts

Archives