Have you ever considered how you may support your community’s schools, fire fighters, food assistance programs and more? Helping is as simple as going online and participating in the 2020 U.S. Census – where everyone counts.
“The U.S. Constitution requires a census every ten years,” information from the U.S. Census Bureau says. “The 2020 census can help shape the future of your community. Your responses inform how the following programs are funded every year.”
Census data helps decide where $675 billion are spent to support programs in local communities, counties and states. Clay County Manager and Director of Health and Human Services, Debbie Mauney, encourages every household to complete the census. “The household response to the census is critical as it impacts funding we receive to provide services such as child care subsidy, energy assistance, food and nutrition, WIC and more,” she said.
U.S. Census information showed examples of how census bureau data influences federal fund distribution. Betty Bradley, executive assistant to the county manager, shared in- dividual statistics she had collected for Clay County. “The 2020 census will impact the funds our schools receive,” she said. “Yet only about 20 percent of Clay County residents have completed their census.”
• Many funds for school lunch programs are the result of census data, but other school needs are funded. Classroom technology, teacher training, after school programs and special needs classes all receive funds based on census results. Head Start is funded for young children, while Pell grants impact college students.
• Food assistance programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are sup- ported by census data. Clay County residents receive $150,000 a month in food assistance and it was as much as $240,000 per month during the recession.
• Fifteen to sixteen million dollars a year provides medical assistance programs such as Medicaid to approximately 2,800 people in Clay County, 1, 250 of whom are under 18 years old.
• Community support services for children and families are also based on the data. Section 8 housing assistance payment programs and child abuse and neglect grants are influenced by census information.
• The federal government oversees each state’s unemployment programs. Unemployment insurance comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, but census data affects it.
• Infrastructure improvements like the those being done to Highways 69, 64 and 175 are results of census data collected.
• Small Business Development Centers, such as the one at Tri-County Community College, help write small business plans and secure small business loans. Those dollars are impacted by the census.
Sandy Zimmerman, of Hayesville’s Small Town Main Street program and Historic Hayesville Inc., gave this reminder about census completion. “We encourage everyone to complete the 2020 Census forms for Clay County to be updated for population information requested with grant applications,” Zimmerman said. “The STMS/HHI mission and work plan include building economic vitality and rehabilitation of historic properties for new businesses and job creation. Hayesville ranks very high in STMS community statistics at the state level with the smallest town population in the 163 communities directly served statewide by the NC Department of Commerce program.”
Pam Roman, Executive Director of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, agreed with Zimmerman and Mauney. “It is extremely important people realize the census is what will give our county the much-needed grants for social services, development of businesses, health care and child development. The communities that have a high rate of re- turn of the census forms gets more help in all aspects of funding for hospitals, health programs, first responders and many more. The governments uses this census to figure out how much money to send to health and social service organization in our area and much more. So if you think it doesn’t matter if you fill out your forms, then you will be helping to decrease the amount of help we can get for our little small county.”
Census data also provides public safety funds for assistance to firefighters’ grants, equipment and capital expenditures. North Carolina disperses more than 12 mil- lion dollars annually, using data from the census. State wildlife grants offer hunter education, build target ranges and prepare for wildfires, as well as restore wildlife and forests following fires.
Zimmerman added, “The census is an extremely important tool for our continued use to show population and high percentage increases in such a small town, as well as an integral part of pursuing any funding opportunities at state or federal levels.”
She shared information received by STMS/HHI programs via email. “You can complete your 2020 Census safely in your home either online at: www.my2020census.gov, by phone or by pa-per form. Completing your census makes sure a census worker does not need to visit your home during Non Response Follow Up later and maintains social distancing.”
It is not too late to respond to the census. Data collection will continue into summer, but you should be counted now. It's quick and easy, confidential and important for the future of Clay County and all of North Carolina.
Roman added, “Do your civic duty and fill out the non-invasive forms and get them in asap.”
Visit the North Carolina census website for details: www.census.nc.gov.