$2.5 Million So All of Minnesota Counts

Minneapolis state lawmaker Rep. Jamie Long (DFL – 61B) is introducing legislation to bring all of Minnesota together for the 2020 Census.

“With the chance of reduced representation for Minnesotans in Congress and $15.5 billion in federal money on the line,” said Long, “It’s important for every Minnesotan from Fosston to Preston and the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe in between to organize for the count in 2020.”

Long’s bill, to be introduced in the Minnesota House this week, will appropriate $2.5 million for state census initiatives to:

• Engage hard to reach households such as those in rural communities with P.O. Boxes and people in apartments,
• Adapt to the first digital census through electronic outreach and organizing,
• Reach historically undercounted communities including infants and children, the population most missed in the decennial count, and
• Establish shared services such as translation assistance that communities from across the state can draw upon as they organize for the April 1, 2020 count.

The bill aligns with plans for census funding included in the 2020-2021 budget just released by Governor Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan.

It is supported by the Minnesota Census Mobilization Partnership and its Our Minnesota Census campaign led by the Minnesota Council on Foundations and community based groups from across the state. See the State Government Omnibus Bill Conference Committee side-by-side authorization and appropriation.