Fulton County is trying to ensure a full count during the upcoming U.S. Census — because population equals money.
This year, the Census will guide which communities in the nation get $1.5 trillion.
Georgia has lost out on $3 billion over the last decade due to Census under-counting, according to Fulton’s head of intergovernmental affairs Fran Calhoun.
Calhoun gave a presentation during the Fulton Board of Commissioners meeting on Feb. 19 about the county’s Census plans.
READ | Feds seek 100% count of African-Americans for 2020 census
She said Fulton's plan includes things as high-tech as geo-targeted MARTA bus announcements being broadcast along routes where there are county libraries, telling rides that those libraries are 2020 Census submission sites.
The county is also hosting PSA contest for high school students to create videos to get the word out about the Census on FGTV, the county's website and social media. The deadline is March 20, and details can be found online at www.fultoncountyga.gov/2020CensusPSAVideoContest.
And there are efforts as low-tech as offering free lunch.
The county on Saturday is offering the free meal for those who register online for the "We Count Summit" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Georgia International Convention Center, 2000 Convention Center Concourse.
The county said in a news release that 35% of its population are in hard-to-count communities, described as “ethnic and racial minorities, children and college students.”
READ | Report: Up to 177,000 Georgians could be missed in the 2020 census
Here’s a timeline from the county on how the Census is going to go:
• March 12 - 20: Households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond online, by phone, or by mail.
• March 30 - April 1: The Census Bureau will count people who are experiencing homelessness over the three days.
• April 1: The nationwide Census Day is observed.
• May 13: Enumerators will begin going to homes of persons who have not responded to the 2020 Census.
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