Hickory – The 2020 Census is at a critical moment. This count determines North Carolina’s federal funding and representation for the next 10 years.

And yet, with little time left, our state is severely undercounted. As of mid-August, more than 41% of North Carolina has not responded to the Census. With our current count, North Carolina will lose $7.4 billion each year for the next 10 years.

That money is felt almost entirely at the local level. It is funding for roads, early education, rural development, veterans, senior care, emergency response services, parks, and many other areas.

North Carolina is the 4th-fastest growing state in the country. Imagine how that growth, that economic development, and that quality of life will suffer if we are unable to tap into $74 billion over the next decade. That is not far-off, abstract funding. Those are our tax dollars, already paid and collected, that we have a right to access.

We need to improve our Census response numbers immediately. So, we’re calling on you for help.

Please help encourage those in the Hickory community that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census to do so immediately. It takes less than 10 minutes. All information is confidential.

Every person counts.
Households can respond immediately online or by phone:
Online: https://my2020census.gov/​
Phone: ​844-330-2020​

Census takers are now going door to door to assist those who have not responded. They will be wearing masks and practicing safety protocols. They will also be clearly identified by a photograph ID badge with the U.S. Department of Commerce watermark. Census workers may also carry Census Bureau bags and other equipment with the Census Bureau logo.

Census takers work between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., including weekends. If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. Responding online or by phone today means a census taker is less likely to have to visit your home to collect your response. The deadline is September 30.