Recruitment Efforts Heating Up For 2020 Census

Recruiting efforts for the 2020 Census will heat up this month.

Sherry Jackson is a representative for the U.S. Census Bureau. She said a $250 million national ad campaign begins January 14 to get more people aware of the upcoming population count.

“Because in mid-March every household within the U.S. will receive an invitation to respond to the Census at their home address,” Jackson said. “This is the very first time you can respond online or by phone. If you don’t respond online or by phone, then you’ll get a paper questionnaire about mid-April. If you don’t respond by paper, then you’ll get a knock at the door.”

Census representative Gabe Powell said part of the $250 million will pay for social media and targeted Google advertisements in Tennessee.

“We struck out at the state level for any type of bus routes (advertising),” Powell said. “But thanks to our partnership with the UCHRA and Upper Cumberland Development District, we have the opportunity to put 12 to 18 inch signs on all of our 100 plus UCHRA vans and buses. This is going to have to be funded by the Upper Cumberland. Depending on the number of buses you have operating in your county, it’s going to be $200 to $300 a county.”

Jackson stressed the importance of counting as many people as possible. She said the federal government uses the information to distribute $675 billion to communities nationwide.

“There’s nothing more important that we have to do in 2020 than getting this Census count right,” Jackson said. “This will mean more to our communities, in terms of federal funds, than anything you can do.”

The 2010 Census counted 30,435 people in Cookeville.