By Dr. Donald Reed, McDowell County COA

MCDOWELL COUNTY, WV – In mid-March, households will begin receiving official Census Bureau mail with detailed information on how to respond to the 2020 Census.  

The census provides critical data that lawmakers, business owners, teachers, and many others use to provide daily services, products, and support for you and your community. Every year, billions of dollars in federal funding go to hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads, and other resources based on census data.

Because the Census Data directly affects the funding of many local agencies, Dr. Donald Reed – McDowell County Commission on Aging, Inc. – chaired a meeting of local agencies to address the timeline of the Census.  Agencies that participated included: Commission on Aging, McDowell County FACES, Tug River Health Association, Community Connections, Inc. Burlington United Method Church Youth Services, and CASEWV. 

By April 1, 2020, every home will receive an invitation to participate in the 2020 Census. Citizens will have three options for responding:  Online,  by phone, or by mail. Assistance to fill out the Census is being provided by the Commission on Aging after April 1st, 2020.  

The Census count is mandated by the Constitution and conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, a nonpartisan government agency. The 2020 Census counts the population in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and five U.S. territories Each home will receive an invitation to respond to a short questionnaire-online, by phone, or by mail. 

Participating in the census is required by law, even if you recently completed another survey from the Census Bureau.