8-31-2020 1:13pm

GREWAL: Be Counted and Help Place Pittsfield Township on The Map

Pittsfield Township Supervisor Mandy Grewal urges residents to complete the US Census in her monthly letter to the community.

September is the last month of the 2020 Census! As such, I would like to focus this letter on urging you to please take a few minutes to take the census yourself and remind your friends and neighbors to do the same.

Every 10 years, the 5-10 minutes it takes for you to complete the census determines the narrative of our community. Our ability to access critical federal and state funding dollars for everything from transportation, public safety, affordable housing, economic development, local food access, and energy efficiency is dependent on who is included in the census count. A decade ago, in the 2010 census, Pittsfield Township had a completion rate of about 70% that gave us an official population county of 34,663. Subsequently, we fell short by 337 of reaching the 35,000 population threshold, which hindered us from accessing a number of grant funding opportunities available to communities with a population of 35,000 and higher.

Going into the last 30 days, 74.5% of Pittsfield Township residents have completed the 2020 census (the last day to take the census is September 30th). Given our past experiences and the essential need to fully count everyone in our community so we can work to meet their needs, I urge you to please take a few minutes of your time to complete the 2020 census: https://2020census.gov.

Please remember that responses are confidential with the only criterion being that you can only take the census once in your community of primary residence. Typically, people of color and foreignborn populations are undercounted but, given our community’s commitment to reflecting the diverse spectrum of our nation’s changing demographics, it is my hope that each of you – regardless of age, race, immigration status, and gender – will take the time to be counted and help place Pittsfield Township on the map!

With your partnership, we will be able to accurately reflect the diverse demographics of our community and leverage it to meet the needs of each and every Pittsfield Township resident. Thank you for your assistance, stay healthy, and be kind and patient with yourselves and each other.

Mandy Grewal, Ph.D.