Why the 2020 Census Matters

Most Americans know that the Census is important for determining the number of Congressional seats in each state. But many don’t realize that the population count determines the distribution of federal funds related to education, health care, children’s programs, transportation and infrastructure, housing assistance and more. In fact, it is estimated that about 300 financial assistance programs created by Congress rely on population data derived from the Census.

With $700 billion in federal funds at stake, for each person that is not counted, the state loses $2,100 per year for ten years.  An undercount of just 1,000 people, for example, would result in the loss of more than $2 million a year; if the undercount in Nevada was just 1 percent, the net annual loss would be the equivalent of $60 million in annual revenue. That’s more than a half billion dollars over the ten-year period that will be redirected to other states instead.

That’s why we need to make sure that everyone living in Nevada is counted. The stakes are high, especially for a state like Nevada, with a population that is growing and has a diverse demographic population. Whether one is an infant or a grandparent, a citizen or a temporary resident – if you are living in Nevada on April 1, you get counted as a resident in Nevada.

Purdue Marion & Associates is working with the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition and the US Census Bureau to get the word out: Everyone in the Nevada gains if everyone fills out the Census.  Like in soccer or hockey, every goal matters; in the Census, everyone counts.  

Let’s #WintheCensus!

To learn more about the Census, visit SouthernNevadaCounts.com