West Michigan Community Groups Push for 2020 Census Participation

The U.S. 2020 census will determine each state’s representation in Congress, and how more than $675 billion in federal funding would be distributed across the country.

As the federal government prepares for the spring survey, community groups in West Michigan are pushing the public for greater participation and hoping to see more resources allocated to their communities as a result.

“Neighbors are counted so that we can get funds to our neighborhood. If those neighbors aren’t counted, we can’t get those funds coming back into our neighborhood because they don’t know these people are here,” Monica Hall said. “It's like if there's a hundred people in the community and only 10 answer, we're only going to have resources for 10 people.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, census data helps allocate federal funding for services and infrastructure, including health care, jobs, schools, roads and businesses. The Michigan Nonprofit Association says every uncounted person could cost the state $1,800 in federal funding per year.

The United Way said it is working to mobilize local nonprofits in west Michigan by providing grants meant to encourage census participation. In Calhoun County, the Southwest Michigan Urban League (Battle Creek, MI) is leading the charge, the organization said.

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