OSWEGO – Oswego County Opportunities is launching its “Let’s Be Counted” Campaign as a way to remind county residents to fill out their 2020 Census forms before the end of the month.
The 2020 census will be ending September 30, allowing residents a certain window of time to complete and submit a form.
The results of the 2020 census will impact Oswego County for the next 10 years, helping to shape the future of Oswego County. Data collected in the 2020 census determines how federal funding will be distributed to states and communities each year.
“It’s essential that we have a fair and accurate census count,” Oswego County Administrator Philip Church said. “It’s critical to programs and services such as health care, emergency services, schools, infrastructure and more.”
Oswego County programs and services that will be directly impacted by the census response include, but are not limited to:
- Medicare and Medicaid
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Head Start Program
- Highway Construction & Repairs
- School Meals and Funding
- AmeriCorps Program
- Public Transportation
- Community Development Block Grants
- College Financial Aid
- Housing Assistance
“There’s a lot at stake in Oswego County,” Oswego County Legislature Chairman James Weatherup said. “The risk of some populations being undercounted could result in a loss of funding for programs that our communities, our friends and our neighbors rely on.”
In addition to funding, census results impact Oswego County politically as well. In regards to fair representation census data is used to determine voting district boundaries, the number of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives and the number of delegates in the Electoral College.
The importance of the 2020 census cannot be overstated. Census data is used to support community initiatives involving legislation, consumer advocacy and quality of life issues. Local governments refer to census data when establishing public safety and emergency preparedness measures.
Completing the census is a way to participate in the national, state and local democracy, while also having a positive impact on county residents and the community’s future as a whole.
Responding to the 2020 census is safe, secure, and easier than ever. Anyone can respond to the census using any of the following options:
- Online by visiting my2020census.gov
- By phone at 844-330-2020 (English) / 844-468-2020 (Spanish)
- By mail. Complete the paper questionnaire sent to your home and mail it back to the U.S. Census Bureau.
All responses are protected by federal law and are used exclusively for producing statistics. Responses are not shared with any other agencies.
Don’t wait another day. It takes less than 10 minutes to answer less than ten questions. Shape your future and your community’s future…respond to the 2020 census today!
For more information on the 2020 Census visit www.oswegocounty.com/census.
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