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Pritzker Administration awards $20 Million to local organizations for the 2020 Census

Illinois provides largest census investment of any state to encourage 2020 Census participation; Lansing working toward at least 95 percent participation

information provided by the Office of the Governor

SPRINGFIELD/CHICAGO, Ill. (October 22, 2019) – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) announced the 30 local community and government organizations across the state that will receive a combined $20 million to maximize Illinois’ success in the 2020 Census. The grants are the largest Census investment made by any state in 2019.

The 30 organizations will serve as Regional Intermediaries for the 2020 Census. Over the next several weeks, Regional Intermediaries will select local organizations within their region and make additional grants. This will ensure funding goes directly to organizations that are on the front lines and best equipped to connect with Illinoisans in urban, rural, and other hard-to-reach communities.

“My message to Illinoisans is that the Census is one of the best ways for your voice to be heard,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “These regional hubs are the first step.”

The Regional Intermediaries chosen for the 2020 Census represent the following regions and have issued a Notice of Funding Opportunities for help administering the census:

The Regional Intermediaries chosen for the 2020 Census include:

CENTRAL

  1. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies – $100,000
  2. Illinois Primary Health Care Association – $500,000

CHICAGO

  1. Community Assistance Programs – $1,000,000
  2. Habilitative Systems Inc -$2,350,000
  3. Illinois Action for Children – $1,000,000
  4. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights – $2,000,000
  5. Puerto Rican Cultural Center -$215,000
  6. Pilsen Wellness Center Inc $135,000
  7. Rincon Family Services – $1,000,000
  8. The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois – $200,000
  9. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago – $1,000,000

COLLAR

  1. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies – $200,000
  2. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights – $750,000
  3. Metropolitan Mayors Caucus – $300,000
  4. Reaching Across Illinois Library System – $750,000
  5. United Way of Metropolitan Chicago – $200,000

NORTH CENTRAL

  1. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies – $150,000
  2. Tri County Regional Planning – $500,000

NORTHEAST CENTRAL

  1. Champaign Urbana Public Health District – $695,000

NORTHERN

  1. Region 1 Planning Council – $920,000

SOUTHEAST CENTRAL

  1. Clay County Health Department – $350,000
  2. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies – $50,000

SOUTHERN

  1. Illinois Public Health Association – $700,000

SUBURBAN

  1. Illinois Action for Children – $750,000
  2. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies- $750,000
  3. Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights – $1,000,000
  4. Metropolitan Mayors Caucus – $1,000,000

SOUTHWEST CENTRAL

  1. Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies – $330,000
  2. Teens Against Killing Everywhere – $330,000

WEST CENTRAL

  1. Western Illinois Regional Council – $300,000

Note: The Northwest region of Illinois, which includes Jo Daviess, Carroll, Whiteside, Lee, LaSalle, Bureau, Putnam, Henry, Mercer, and Rock Island Counties, was not awarded a competitive grant in this round due to the lack of an applicant that met the necessary criteria. A new Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) was also released to ensure every area in Illinois is fully included in the Census 2020 program.

Preparing for the 2020 Census

In June, Governor JB Pritzker signed Executive Order 19-10 to ensure an accurate Census count in all communities across Illinois. The Order established a new Census Office, led by Census Directors Marishonta Wilkerson and Oswaldo Alvarez. A bipartisan, bicameral Census Advisory Panel guides its work.

In August, IDHS released a Notice Of Funding Opportunity that adhered to all Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) requirements, which exist to protect taxpayers by ensuring accountability and fairness in government grantmaking. The NOFO process encourages feedback and participation from community partners, stakeholders, legislators, and members of the Census Advisory Panel.

In September, Lansing Village Clerk Vivian Payne began forming a Complete Count Committee (CCC), which will lead Lansing’s effort to be involved in the 2020 Census. The committee is made up of volunteers who represent a variety of networks and who will serve as “Census Ambassadors.”

In early October, the CCC received training from the US Census Bureau so they can answer questions and address fears about census participation. Clerk Payne noted that only 76 percent of Lansing residents participated in the 2010 Census. She would like Lansing to achieve 95 percent response in 2020.

Volunteers from a variety of Lansing networks form the Complete Count Committee. All but three were available to attend the October 9 training meeting led by the Census Bureau. Back row, from left: Ernst Lamothe, Veronica Reyes, Melanie Jongsma, Rick Pierce, Bert Rivera, Darvel Stinson, Miguel Gutierrez, Richard Podgorski, Mike Fish. Front row: Vivian Payne, Kim Morley, Karen Adams, Martha Vargas. (Photo: Cory Stevenson, Census Bureau)

Census importance

Illinois’ final Census count is consequential. An undercount of residents could diminish the state’s proportional share of federal funding for critical services and programs. The number of seats Illinois has in the U.S. House of Representatives for the next 10 years will also be determined by the Census count in 2020.

Learn more about the 2020 Census in Illinois at census.illinois.gov.

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