The nation’s Decennial Census is still a few months away but local organizations and governments will be coming together to learn more about Census 2020 and to begin discussing ways to ensure that all people residing in our area get counted. The United Way of Northern Chautauqua County has organized a special meeting to take place on Monday from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the BOCES LoGuidice Center in Fredonia. The meeting will include a presentation from the US Census Bureau and local government officials that have started work on complete count committees, as well as an invitation to collaborate on a complete count committee focused on Northern Chautauqua County.

The nation’s first Census took place in 1790, as required by the U.S. Constitution and it has occurred every 10 years since. Census 2020 will be the first Census with options to reply by phone or computer. Like all prior censuses the 2020 count will be utilized by the federal government and other agencies to help make funding decisions, allocate resources, and will play a role in determining congressional representation. Its impacts will last more than a decade, making it critical that all individuals be counted to ensure that those decisions are based on accurate data.

Adam Dolce, executive director of the United Way, stated, “It is crucial that we ensure that our region has an accurate count in 2020. Undercounting or under reporting of our population and demographics could jeopardize much-needed federal resources to this area. Those resources are utilized by our local governments for special projects as well as by our not-for-profit community to provide important services. We look forward to working within our community to form and launch a complete count committee that can carry out this work on a regional level”.

The meeting is open to the public and anyone wishing to learn more about the community’s response to the Census is welcome to attend. If individuals are unable to attend but wish to be included in follow up or future meetings, they are encouraged to call the United Way office at 716-366-5424, or by email to Nolan@unitedwayncc.org.