Local efforts are being made as the 2020 Census draws closer.
Members of the Board of County Supervisors (BOCS) heard about the upcoming survey from Demographer Brian Engelmann.
Starting in mid-March, community members will be able to complete it through various mediums — online, over the phone and through mail.
According to a release from Prince William County, Engelmann explained in his presentation that the results from the Census impact how much federal dollars the county receives for programs, including Medicaid and foster care.
Each county resident amounts to about $21,120 of funding throughout 10 years.
The number of U.S. House of Representative seats that are allocated for each state are also decided by information gathered through the Census.
To prepare for the questionnaire, officials are training volunteers who will share information about it at libraries.
Between Noon and 4 p.m. on April 1, Northern Virginia Community College’s (NOVA) Woodbridge campus is hosting a World Census Day event.
Attendees may take the Census as well as enjoy music and free food.
Prince William County is working with area organizations, such as Action in Community Through Service (ACTS) and Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Action (HOLA).
“This is our major push to get in touch with trusted voices in our community whether it is a business, whether it is a faith-based organization … Whether it’s getting a blurb in a newsletter that folks read, or simply hearing from a community leader, these are probably some of the best conduits for Census awareness,” Engelmann said.
To learn more about the survey, visit the county’s website. Jobs can be found on the 2020 Census website.
