City of Santa Maria shares the latest on 2020 census count

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The 2020 United States census is just around the corner and the City of Santa Maria is stepping up its efforts by collaborating with 13 local organizations for the Census.

“We’re also going to go ahead and partner up with a few more special projects division because about 18 or 20 thereabouts in our community receive funding directly from the federal government through the city,” said spokesperson Mark van de Kamp with the City.

To make sure everyone gets counted the city is delivering thousands of tote bags to groups to send a message.

“They're printed in English and in Spanish and it says be counted Santa Maria it has a number of hands that are raise in different hues to show that were inclusive and we want everybody in town. No matter what is their background or their age please be counted in the census,” van de Kamp said.

In addition to partnering with a variety of organizations, van de Kamp said the city is also reaching out to dozens of churches for the census.

Angel Lopez with Future Leaders of America explains what the concern if everyone isn’t counted in our community.

“There’s a lot of funding that goes into everyone being counted I believe it’s $2,000 per person it is allocated toward funding so if there is people that don’t get counted there will be resources in funding that won’t get distributed and it would be very unfortunate to see in our city,” Lopez said.

The city will be purchasing more materials to distribute to nonprofit organizations, especially for the neighborhoods considered “hard to count”

The 2020 United States census will take place on April 1.