By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
With only a couple of weeks before the U.S. Census Bureau wraps up the 2020 Census, both the cities of Wyoming and Kentwood are making final pushes to encourage people to be counted.
The end date for the 2020 Census has been influx as the nation dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic. About a month ago, Census Bureau officials announced that since response to the 2020 Census has been good, it will conclude data collection operations on Sept. 30. Currently, the Census reports more than 90 percent of the nation has completed the nine-question census. Enumerators have been out following up with those who have not responded to the initial questionnaire.
The U.S. Census Bureau currently is reporting that Michigan has more than a 92 percent total response rate, of which about 70 percent was residents who self-responded to the initial questionnaire and the remaining has been responses collected through follow-up.
Total response rate numbers are not broken down by county or city such as self-response rate. For the self-response, both the cities of Wyoming and Kenwood had higher numbers for the 2020 Census then for the 2010 Census. In Kentwood, it is 78 percent for 2020 compared to 68 percent for 2010. For the City of Wyoming, it was 76 percent for 2020 compared to 66 percent in 2010.
Census Bureau officials contribute the higher self-response rates to a number of factors including that the 2020 Census is the first census where residents were able to fill the form out online.
“I am delighted to be where we are, but we have to keep the momentum going to end strong,” said Mayor Stephen Kepley. “Time is running out. Community members can self-respond online, by phone, or by mail through Sept. 30. Census takers are visiting households that have not yet responded to help ensure everyone is counted.”
In a recent Facebook post encouraging its residents fill out the census, the City of Wyoming stated that about 20 percent of its population still needed to complete the 2020 Census. For every person who does not complete the census could result in the lost of dollars to a municipality such as the City of Wyoming from federally funded programs which use the census data to determine where billions of dollars in funding will be directed. Some of the federally funded programs that use the census in determining allocations are community block grants, road funding, and school lunch programs.
“While the City does not have an official percentage goal for the census, we would love to achieve a complete and accurate count to ensure Kentwood receives its fair share of vital resources for all community members,” Kepley said.
The census also determines the number of seats Michigan will have in the U.S. House of Representatives with the state pushing to maintain its current 14 seats. On the state level, the results impact the Michigan House of Representatives. The Kent County Board of Commission also uses census data for redistricting along with cities using it for its districts. Wyoming’s City Clerk Kelli VandenBerg recently pointed out that the city tries to keep its three ward districts balanced and will take a look at the census numbers to determine if adjustments are needed.
To help encourage its residents to complete the 2020 Census, the City of Kentwood is hosting a series of 2020 Cenus pop events over the next week and half. The events run from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17, at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St. SE; Sept. 22 at Old Farm Park, 2350 Embro Dr. SE; and Sept. 24 at Kentwood’s Covenant Park, 3724 Shaffer Ave. SE.
“Ultimately, the success of the census depends on everyone’s participation,” Kepley said.
