The State of Utah’s Complete Count Committee has announced it will make up to $500,000 in grants available to entities seeking to help achieve an accurate count in hard-to-reach areas and populations.
The funding for these grants is supported by appropriations made by the Utah Legislature. The grants will be made available through a competitive and panel-reviewed process.
Examples of possible projects could include, but are not limited to:
- Local nonprofit and community-based group census trainings
- Targeted awareness campaigns
- Education materials
- Outreach activities in diverse communities
- Direct support with questionnaire assistance
- Communications support such as internet access, language translation, and other accessibility accommodations
- Workshops and informal gatherings to address census-related concerns and questions
- Training with nonprofits on effective outreach tactics and methods for identifying and engaging historically undercounted communities
- Outreach efforts and messaging during non-response follow-up phase
Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations, schools, arts and cultural organizations, museums, libraries, local governments, and other organizations with an IRS W9 number, and/or tribes, community groups fiscally sponsored by IRS W9 numbered organizations, organizations and coalitions working in the identified historically undercounted communities and geographies.
All applications must be created and submitted online through the grants portal at uamgrants.utah.gov. If you do not have an account, it may take up to two days to create one. More information can also be found at the official Utah Complete Count Committee Website at https://gomb.utah.gov/census-
Grant applications are due November 8, 2019. Grantees will have between November 24, 2019 – June 30, 2020 to complete their project.
Background:
Every 10 years, the United States Constitution requires that every person living in the United States be counted through a nationwide census. The goal of the decennial census is to count each person in the United States based on their residence as of April 1, 2020. Accurate census data is essential for federal and state funding allocations. Many state and federal resources are allocated to local jurisdiction according to population, demographic characteristics, needs, and assets as reported by census data.
For Utah to ensure fair and accurate political representation and funding allocations, the Census Bureau must undergo the difficult task of accurately counting the state’s dynamic, diverse population. Historically, some populations have been undercounted. These populations can include young children, highly mobile persons, racial and ethnic minorities, non-English speakers, low income persons, persons experiencing homelessness, immigrants, persons distrustful of government, and people living in rural parts of the country. Funding for census-related projects is now available through the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget.
