As most people will receive their 2020 Census form in the mail by Apr. 1, the 2020 Regional Census Complete Count Committee, a multi-agency working group, received a second grant for $256,101 to encourage everyone to get counted, by filling out their census form.
“Getting everyone counted is the most significant action we can take this spring because it will help shape numerous programs that help our community, over the next decade,” said Dist. 5 Doña Ana County Commissioner Manuel Sanchez. “When we fill out the census form, whether it’s online, by mail or phone, we ensure we will get congressional representation and federal dollars for healthcare, schools and roads in our community, regardless of our age, political affiliation or residential status.”
Everyone who lives in Doña Ana County must be counted in the census because the alternative means $64 million less funding, over the next 10 years, if only one percent of the county’s residents is not counted.
New Mexico receives more than $7 billion through federal programs for healthcare, highways, education, housing, jobs and other needs, based on census data. With so much at stake, the state appropriated $3.5 million in 2019 to prepare for the 2020 Census by educating and encouraging all residents to get counted.
“Doña Ana County was awarded the additional funds to help maximize census participation, especially in hard-to-count groups in rural and unincorporated areas. We developed a comprehensive marketing and outreach plan, in collaboration with a variety of organizations represented in our Complete Count Committee. Now, we will focus on helping people fill out their form accurately in on time,” said Doña Ana County Manager Fernando R. Macias.
The number of people counted will directly impact the amount of funding states and counties receive for programs ranging from school lunches, to Pell Grants for college, Medicare and even roads and infrastructure. Census data is also referenced by businesses to evaluate which cities may support their presence or growth. That includes healthcare clinics, retail stores and restaurants.
“In partnership with census representatives from the federal and state levels, including municipalities and educational, healthcare and non-profit organizations, we hope to reach everyone with our multi-faceted campaign,” Macias said. “It is vital to reach every single constituent – from those inside the city limits to the rural and transient communities – the message is the same: be counted.”
The campaign includes internet and television advertisements, radio interviews and announcements, posters, flyers and social media in both English and Spanish. To ensure outreach to communities in rural areas, 26 promotoras and dozens of volunteers and census workers will help residents learn about and fill out their census.
The law requires the Census Bureau to keep information confidential and use responses only to produce statistics. Responses cannot be shared with any government agency or court. Online responses are encrypted to protect personal privacy.
“Counting everyone in our household tells federal and state legislators that our county earned and deserves investment,” Macias said. “It is easy, fast and safe.”
For more information, please visit www.icountnm.gov. To like the campaign on Facebook and keep up to date on related news, please visit www.facebook.com/
Information from Doña Ana County