At the beginning of each decade the federal government counts every person living in the United States. The 2020 Census is a critical operation that will have lasting impacts over the next 10 years. Ensuring an accurate count in the 2020 Census is crucial. The results will determine the allocation of trillions of federal dollars for the next decade.
More than 300 federal programs rely on the results of this once-a-decade count to determine how to distribute funds among states and locales, amounting to $1.504 TRILLION in federal funding.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is the primary funding stream for workforce development boards like KentuckianaWorks, and is included among the programs that use data derived from the Census count to allocate its funding. The results of the 2020 Census will influence the amount of money workforce boards receive from the federal government to operate networks of career centers offering services including career counseling, job training, resume-building, and direct referrals to employers. And that’s just one federal program! Census-guided spending is used in education, housing, healthcare, community services, and much more.
The distribution of federal dollars is but one of many reasons an accurate 2020 Census is so important. The data from the Census count determine how political districts are drawn for federal, state, and local jurisdictions. The data are also used for planning schools, roads, business locations, emergency services, and much more.
Make sure your household is counted
The 2020 Census will be the first time households will have the option to fill out their census form online. Beginning in mid-March, households will begin receiving an invitation to respond to the 2020 Census online, so be sure to keep an eye on your mail!
Most Louisville area residents will receive a letter highlighting the internet response option for the Census (shown in purple in the map below). Some households will also receive a paper version of the questionnaire, giving them the option to mail back the form or call in their response (shown in green in the map below).
Your responses are protected
Personal information collected by the Census is safe, secure, and protected by federal law. The information cannot be shared with law enforcement, immigration, the courts, or anyone. Your answers can only be used to produce statistics.
Everyone counts
The Census counts every person living in the United States, regardless of age, race, or citizenship status. Ensuring every person in your household is counted will create the most accurate count. There won’t be another chance to get this right for 10 more years.
The Census Bureau is hiring
Counting every person living in the United States is a big operation. The Census Bureau has many jobs available. In addition, the National Processing Center in Jeffersonville, IN is also hiring for the 2020 Census. Check out this guide for the unique job opportunities in the Louisville region.
Want to learn more?
There are lots of resources available to help spread the word about how important the 2020 Census is. Our community is best served by a complete count in the 2020 Census.
