There's a variety of social programs, education, such as grants, student loans, and things like that are all funding items that are directed based on census data. EASTON, Pa. (WLVT) - For the first time in five decades, Easton's population is growing, and the city is encouraging all residents to complete the 2020 U.S. Census.
"I wish the census was in two years, because we would be growing by another couple thousand people," said mayor Sal Panto, Jr. "If we can get a really accurate count, we'll get closer to our historic population, which was, at one time, 35,000."
The 2010 census counted 26,800 residents, but Panto says that’s not an accurate figure. In fact, 27.8 percent of households in some parts of Easton didn’t fill out the survey, hurting the city financially.
"Not having that population count would make funds go to another location to another community, and the city isn't getting all the resources that it deserves or needs to accommodate the population we have," said Stephen Nowroski, the city's director of planning and codes.
Nowroski said the city would get about $2,100 in federal funding for every resident counted.
"It goes towards health care benefits, such as Medicare, WIC food programs, such as the school breakfast program, school lunch program, adult and child food programs," he explained. "There's a variety of social programs, education, such as grants, student loans, and things like that are all funding items that are directly based on census data."
Panto added that the census data determines Pennsylvania's representation in Congress and can impact how districts are drawn. On a local level, he said says more residents mean more funding from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program, which financially supports projects in low and moderate-income neighborhoods.
"We can spend money doing street structure and infrastructure in the West Ward that we can't spend on College Hill," he explained. "We can spend it on parts of South Side. We can't spend it on downtown Easton."
To help spread the word about the census, the city launched a campaign in English ("Easton You Count") and Spanish ("Easton Ustedes Cuentan").
"The information obtained by the census cannot be shared with anyone," said Norman Bristol Colon with the Governor’s Census 2020 Complete Count Commission in a Spanish-language campaign video. "Census employees are sworn to protect this information that is strictly confidential."
Over the next few months, the city will roll out more advertising, including banners and yard signs written in both languages.
"If you want to reach the people who may not be responding, because they don't understand -- just like my ancestors who didn't speak English spoke Italian -- you need to put it in a language that they can understand," Panto said.
"It was very important to be able to communicate to all of our residents the message that it's safe, secure, what the funding is used for, and how it benefits the community and them personally," Nowroski said.
The city is picking a few places near schools and parks to add a hopscotch design, and there will be special emails and social media posts to push the campaign online.
"Expect this to receive some mailing from the Census Bureau in mid-March, which will give you the opportunity to reply to the census online or by phone," Nowroski said. "If you don't respond via an electronic medium like online or phone, you'll get a paper form you could fill out and send back."
Census Day is April 1, when census employees will reach out to residents in person at their homes to collect information. The city is working on a website that will have more information for residents.
For more coverage of the 2020 U.S. Census in the Lehigh Valley, click HERE, HERE, and HERE.