MONTGOMERY, Ala.— The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is issuing a last call for projects to be considered for funding under the Alabama Counts 2020 Census Grant program. The deadline to submit an application is 5 p.m. this Friday, Oct. 11.
Alabama’s goal for the 2020 Census is to obtain maximum participation in every Alabama community, municipality and county. ADECA is seeking applications for collaborative projects that increase the census response rates at a local or regional level, particularly in communities and groups that are considered hard-to-count. Complete details, including types of organizations eligible to apply, are available at www.census.alabama.gov/grants.
“The 2020 Census is critical to the future of Alabama and its communities. The state needs the assistance and support of local and regional groups to increase the count,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I encourage any interested and eligible organizations that already reach and serve hard-to-count areas and groups to submit an application.”
The funding for the grant program, totaling $1 million, was allocated to the agency in the 2020 Education Trust Fund budget. The one-time grant funding is to be expended to assist local community outreach efforts designed to encourage Alabama residents to complete the 2020 Census count. All grants will be awarded by Dec. 31 in preparation for the census count in March – June 2020.
ADECA hosted two application workshops with a combined attendance of more than 200 in early September for the grant program.
The stakes are high for Alabama in 2020. Every Alabamian directly benefits from the federal programs with funding allocations that are determined in part by census data. Completing a census form will help ensure that Alabama receives its fair share of funding. The federal government also will use 2020 Census data to allocate the nation’s congressional seats. Many projections currently have Alabama at-risk of losing one of its seven congressional seats.
