The Maryland Complete Count Committee (CCC) this week approved a Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) proposal to allocate about $900,000 to state and local efforts to educate residents on the importance of the 2020 Census. The CCC is charged with developing and implementing an outreach strategy to build partnerships and coordinate with local governments, non-profits, and other organizations across the state to ensure a fair and accurate census count.

As previously reported on Conduit Street, the 2020 Census Grant Panel awarded over $4 million in matching funds to local governments and organizations that serve hard-to-count communities. Ten counties applied for and received grant funding.

The MDP proposal allocates the remaining funds to the CCC and to local governments that did not receive state grant funding.

Census data is used to allocate billions of dollars in federal funding for education, health, transportation, housing, community services, and job training. Moreover, businesses and industries decide where to locate new facilities and services based on census data, creating new jobs, and promoting economic growth.

An accurate census count, or lack thereof, has a lasting effect on counties, particularly when it comes to the distribution of federal funds. An under-counted population may lead to a significant decline in federal funding flowing to county governments or county residents.

Per the MDP plan, the CCC will receive about $300,000 to launch a statewide marketing campaign. Another $300,000 will go to the Maryland Municipal League (MML), which will distribute grants to municipalities.

The remaining $300,000 will be split evenly between Allegany, Calvert, Caroline, Cecil, Charles, Dorchester, Garrett, Kent, Queen Anne’s, St. Mary’s, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester Counties.

Members of the CCC include nonprofit leaders, elected officials, state agency heads, and county and municipal government representatives. Baltimore County Chief of Staff Patrick Murray represents MACo on the committee.

For more information on the 2020 Census and the CCC, visit www.census.maryland.gov.

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