The State of Alabama is making sure its citizens are counted on the upcoming 2020 U.S. Census. Governor Kay Ivey announced on December 2 that funds are being provided to 34 government agencies and organizations to promote, educate and encourage individuals to fill out the census this spring. The funding is coming from the 2019-2020 Education Trust Fund Budget, allocated by the Legislature.
“I cannot emphasize enough the importance of what a full and accurate count in the 2020 Census means for Alabama. Those numbers have a direct impact on billions of dollars in funding that affect schools, community programs, health care, job opportunities and just about every other aspect of our state,” Ivey said. The census also is used to determine the number of congressional seats the state has in Congress.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants and will act as liaison to the U.S. Census Bureau and the lead state agency for 2020 Census outreach and preparation.
In mid-March, every Alabama household address will receive an invitation to respond to the census. The following is a list of the organizations receiving grant funds and for what those funds are slated to be used:
- Alabama Community College System — $80,052 to establish centers and adult education sites where the census can be filled out
- Alabama Possible — $40 to develop a statewide grassroots communication infrastructure to promote participation
- Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission — $12,616 for awareness activities in the Black Belt
- Aliceville Elementary School — $35,000 to raise awareness among parents of students in Pickens County
- ARC of Madison County — $40,000 to reach disabled residents statewide
- Auburn University/Alabama Cooperative Extension System — $40,000 for a statewide campaign throughout county extension offices
- Baldwin County Commission — $20,000 to target hard to reach groups, such as the aging population and people with disabilities
- Birmingham Public Library — $10,000 for outreach initiatives to increase participation
- Black Belt Community Foundation — $40,000 to provide training workshops and events in the organization’s 12-county area
- Blount County Economic Development Council — $35,000 for educational materials and interpreters to promote the census to hard-to-reach residents
- City of Brundidge — $5,642 for advertising, banners and signage
- Bullock County Development Authority — $10,015 to conduct events and conduct outreach through direct mail
- Coosa County Commission — $17,000 to reach hard-to-count populations with little or no internet access
- City of Cullman — $40,000 to partner with 30 entities to promote the census
- City of Decatur — $5,500 to host community events
- Elmore County Commission — $30,048 for events to increase census participation
- Franklin County Commission — $40,000 for outreach activities reaching hard-to-reach populations in the county
- City of Foley — $10,000 for promotional items and conducting events to further awareness
- Greenville-Butler County Library — $32,650 to provide census education and technology assistance for residents
- Hispanic Interest Coalition of Alabama — $40,000 to partner with other statewide organizations to raise awareness in immigrant communities
- Houston County Commission — $3,860 to cover extended hours at senior centers the week of April 1st, which is Census Day, in helping seniors fill out the form
- Ivy Foundation of Montgomery — $40,000 to support the foundation’s partners with statewide census awareness activities
- Lowndes County Commission — $40,000 to enhance awareness in minority, low-income and low-education populations
- Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments — $40,000 to use digital media, advertising and promotions within northwest Alabama
- City of Opelika — $11,931 to implement two workstations for residents to complete the census
- Perry County Commission — $31,000 for advertising, social media and direct outreach targeting hard-to-reach populations
- City of Saraland — $17,000 for education workshops and events, along with advertising
- Shelby County Commission — $22,686 to promote awareness within hard-to-reach populations
- Clair County Commission — $10,000 t raise awareness and hold events to fill out the census
- Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments — $40,000 for outreach efforts to reach the aging population in the organization’s five county area in northeast Alabama
- Tuskegee Human and Civil Rights Multicultural Center — $40,000 for outdoor media promotion and Census Day activities
- United Way of Central Alabama — $40,000 for community initiatives to increase the census self-response rate
- VOICES for Alabama’s Children — $40,000 to address a previous undercount of children under the age of five
- YMCA of Tuscaloosa — $40,000 for the Y on Wheels project to increase self-response rates in and around the city of Tuscaloosa and Tuscaloosa County
