Cobb getting ready for 2020 U.S. Census

Cobb County will form a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 U.S. Census. (Courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau)

Cobb County will form a Complete Count Committee for the 2020 U.S. Census. (Courtesy of U.S. Census Bureau)

The Cobb County Board of Commissioners has authorized Cobb’s participation in the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2020 Decennial Census by selecting Jason Gaines to be the Cobb County liaison and authorizing the formation of a Complete Count Committee.

In March 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau will begin distributing questionnaires to every household in the nation in an attempt to enumerate the number of people who reside in the United States.

“It is vital that local governments create partnerships with the Census Bureau to assist with generating a count that is as accurate as possible,” said Cobb Community Development Agency Director Dana Johnson in a Nov. 27 memo.

Census data is used for many purposes such as distribution of more than $675 billion annually in federal funding to state and local governments, drawing federal and state legislative districts, forecasting future transportation needs and determining areas eligible for housing assistance and rehabilitation loans .

As part of Cobb’s preparation for the 2020 Census, the formation of the Complete Count Committee will bring together community leaders to generate an awareness and education campaign with the intent of influencing every Cobb resident to complete the 2020 Census questionnaire.

The committee will be active until October 2020.

Information: Census.gov