A Complete Count in Kansas City would yield roughly $1 billion in federal funds per year

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Council today approved a resolution introduced by Mayor Quinton Lucas establishing a Complete Count Committee tasked with increasing participation in and raising awareness about the 2020 United States Census. Resolution No. 191038 directs the Committee to focus on outreach to historically hard-to-count populations in Kansas City and to ensure an accurate count of all residents.

“So much of our community’s federal funding allocation for the next 10 years is determined by the outcome of the 2020 Census,” said Mayor Lucas. “I encourage all Kansas Citians to participate in the Census to ensure that these federal resources are reflective of our actual city population to help advance local issues such as public safety, transportation and infrastructure.”

“The Kansas City Public Library knows the high stakes of this census,” said Kansas City Public Library Executive Director Crosby Kemper. “We are excited – and proud – to join the extensive community effort to ensure a complete and accurate count, sharing information about the importance of responding to the census and extending computer access to facilitate that response.”

“The Mid-America Regional Council applauds the action by the city of Kansas City to form a local complete count committee,” said Mid-America Regional Council Community Development Director Marlene Nagel. “This action is important to local and regional efforts to raise awareness and encourage action by area residents in responding to the 2020 Census survey next spring. Everyone in our community needs to be counted!”

Mayor Lucas and the City Council are committed to full participation in the 2020 Census. Federal funds are allocated to municipalities based on census data; providing a complete count will result in better funding for issues such as education, transportation and healthcare. Approximately $4,700 in federal funds are allocated to Missouri per Census-completing household; conversely, each person not counted in the state of Missouri could result in a potential loss of $1,272 per person per year.

The Kansas City Complete Count Committee will implement a grassroots strategy to encourage participation in this vital part of our country’s democratic process. Through media and sponsored events with assistance from selected organizations, City Hall and the United States Census Bureau, this committee aims to achieve an accurate count among all populations.

Local organizations represented on the Complete Count Committee include: Alphapointe, Avila University, the American Indian Council, Center School District, EITAS, Guadalupe Centers, the Heartland Black Chamber of Commerce, Hickman Mills School District, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Kansas City Center for Inclusion, the Kansas City Indian Center, the Housing Authority of Kansas City, Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Public Schools, KMBC, the Rhodes Center and Northeast Alliance Together, the Mid-America LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Mid-Continent Library, Midtown KC Now, North Kansas City School Districts, Park Hill School District, Platte County School District, Rockhurst University, the South KC Alliance, The Whole Person, UMKC and the Urban League.

You can find out more about the City’s role in the 2020 Census and efforts to ensure a complete count by visiting kcmo.gov/census. Any additional local organizations that would like to assist with 2020 Census efforts should reach out to Rick Usher.

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