Download The 2020 Census Business Engagement Toolkit
The Detroit Regional Chamber is committed to helping the Detroit region get an accurate Census count across to help both business and government make better decisions and invest in our communities. Business owners and operators can help achieve an accurate 2020 Census by encouraging their employees and customers to complete their census questionnaires early. Businesses can start promoting the census in March 2020, when households receive their census materials by mail, using the resources outlined in this toolkit.
Key Information:
- The U.S. Census Bureau announced it will end the 2020 Census early. The deadline to complete your census is now Sept. 30, 2020.
- Detroit has the fifth-lowest response rate out of cities with more than 200,000 residents.
- The COVID-19 crisis took old-fashioned canvassing out of the equation. But starting June 29, 11 community groups the city hired with more than 100 canvassers started combing streets in neighborhoods with low response rates.
- Door-knockers visited 150,000 homes in the fall and 200,000 so far in this second phase. The City of Detroit expects that to rise to 300,000 by the end of September.
Why Does The 2020 Census Matter?
Michigan’s influence in Congress is at stake.
The census count determines the number of representatives Michigan has in congress. An incomplete count risks Michigan losing a congressional seat.
District maps risk being redrawn.
State officials use the results of the census to redraw the boundaries of legislative districts, adapting to population shifts. Local, state and federal district maps rely on an accurate count.
$675 billion in federal funds.
Census data determines how more than $675 billion is spent supporting vital community program including:
- Road construction
- Medicare
- Special education
- Free school lunches
- Bridge cards and WIC
- Other state/local services
$18,000+ over 10 years is lost for every Detroiter who is not counted.
For every Detroiter who does not fill out the census, the city of Detroit loses $1,800 each year for the next 10 years.
Learn about the region’s economics, workforce/talent, industry clusters and more.
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