Has Your County Created a Local Complete Count Committee for the 2020 Census?

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The 2020 Census will be here in less than a year. Over $675 billion in federal funding is on the line that will be distributed to states and local governments based on the results of this census. The best way to make sure that your county will have  the most accurate count is to create a local complete count committee (LCCC) to ensure that all residents in your county are motivated and educated about the importance of participating in the census. These committees should include representatives from county and city governments, faith-based groups, nonprofits, schools, local businesses, the media, community groups, cultural and ethnic organizations, and any other organization that can help spread awareness and has a network within your county.

During the 2010 Census, 77 counties created a LCCC with an additional 22 counties partnering with cities to create a joint LCCC.  A list of all LCCCs that were formed in 2010 can be found here. Counties that created a LCCC had more community involvement in the census and better outreach efforts than counties that did not create committees. To avoid undercounts and to maximize the census count for your county, it is highly recommended that your county create a LCCC.

Local Complete Count Committees Resources

There are many resources available to help your county get started. The U.S. Census Bureau has detailed information on its website, including a 2020 Census Complete Count Committee Guide. The Atlanta Regional Office of the Census Bureau can assist by hosting a workshop or meeting with your county to help create a local committee.  These Census Bureau representatives are willing to travel anywhere in the state to assist with educational efforts on how to create a LCCC. To set up an information session or meeting, contact Vicki Mack at vicki.r.mack@2020census.gov or Thurmond Tillman at thurmond.n.tillman@2020census.gov.

Once your county has created a LCCC, make sure your committee is signed up through the State Complete County Committee website at https://census.georgia.gov/webform/local-complete-count-committee-sign.  The state is serving as a clearinghouse to track all local complete count committees that have been organized. This will allow for easier distribution of 2020 Census materials and information that will be critical to the census effort.  ACCG is also interested in knowing which counties are creating LCCCs so that we can provide assistance as needed. Please complete our LCCC Survey by May 13, 2019.

ACCG and GMA partnered in February and March of this year to provide a series of workshops on how to create a LCCC. If your county was unable to attend one of these workshops, an alternative is available. The March 6, 2019 Workshop held in Macon was recorded and is available for viewing here and here.  Handouts for each workshop can be found here.

Additional Census Resources

The Response Outreach Area Mapper (ROAM): Shows characteristics of hard-to-count areas. https://www.census.gov/roam

National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): Provides internet connectivity maps by county, which can help identify service gaps. https://www.digitalinclusion.org/home-internet-maps/

2010 Response Rates: Provides response rates from the 2010 Census by state, county, city, and more. It also compares the participation rate from 2000 to 2010. https://www.census.gov/data/datasets/2010/dec/2010-participation-rates.html

Georgia 2020 Census Website: Provides information about the State CCC and includes census data and information. https://census.georgia.gov/

ACCG Website: Provides county specific census information and data, including county specific maps. http://www.accg.org/2020_census.php

GMA Website: Provides a 2020 Census toolkit for cities https://www.gmanet.com/Advice-Knowledge/2020-Census-Toolkit.aspx