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5/29/2019 |
Press Release |
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The Census Means Business |
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Casey Farmer, Executive Director, Alameda County Complete Count Committee for Census 2020
2020 will be a monumental year. Between California’s presidential primary in March and the general election in November, our nation will undergo our decennial Census. Participation is critical -- an undercount could cost us billions or even a seat in Congress.
Alameda County and the State of California are already taking steps to ensure an accurate count. County Census staff recently held fifteen Census Solutions Workshops for community-based organizations to brainstorm ideas for effective and authentic outreach and will utilize a State grant to empower these organizations with trainings and materials. Additionally, the State will be investing in advertising, outreach, and real-time data analysis to monitor progress throughout the Census.
For the business community specifically, an accurate count is important for three main reasons:
First, Census data is used to distribute approximately $76 billion in federal funding for essential services across California, like health care, transportation, housing, K-12 education, food stamps, and more. These federals dollars are investments. They educate your future workforce, transport your employees to work, and provide social service dollars that are spent within our local economy. Current funding does not meet the vast need across Alameda County, and an undercount would only make things worse.
Second, Census data is invaluable. Every strategic businessperson knows that information is power, and the Census Bureau produces the best data to utilize when considering an expansion, monitoring growth, and analyzing consumer trends. In fact, much of the economic development data we pay for comes from the Census. A complete count means we can make accurate decisions in boardrooms, city halls, and beyond.
Third, the Census allocates Congressional representation. Since the Census count is the basis of how many representatives each state receives, a significant undercount could cause California to lose representation, and thus lose power, at the federal level. Census data is also used to set the boundaries for things like state legislative districts, school districts, and voting precincts. Simply put: an inaccurate count means unequal representation.
Census 2020 presents a number of new challenges: a proposed citizenship question, the first-ever digital questionnaire, growing distrust in government, and concerns over data privacy. The business community has a key role to play in overcoming barriers to participation for the future of our community and our economy. We’ll need creative and collaborative ideas to ensure an accurate count.
What can your business do to promote the Census? Send your questions and ideas to Casey Farmer at [email protected] or (510) 393-0388. For more information, visit http://acgov.org/census2020/
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