Leaders strategize ways to get complete count in Arkansas for 2020 Census

LITTLE ROCK (KATV) — Soon everyone in Arkansas will be asked to fill out the 2020 Census. And leaders across the state are working tirelessly to make sure no one goes uncounted.

If you care about the schools your kids go to—or the roads you drive on—members of Arkansas Counts said you should fill out your census form.

"If they are counted, we can get more hospitals, we can get more education,” said Gloria Bastidas, leader in the Hispanic community.

People from all over the state put their heads together at the 2020 Census Summit.

"It matters literally to everyone,” said Regina Taylor with the Arkansas Food Bank. “It doesn't matter your background, race, ethnicity. It really is all about our state and making sure we get all the resources our state needs to be successful."

Governor Asa Hutchinson said if just one-percent of people go uncounted, the state will lose almost one-billion dollars in federal funding.

"I’m pretty good at math, so that's 100-million dollars a year,” Hutchinson said. “And that's a lot of money that is at stake in the work we get done."

Hutchinson said a big challenge is when people are afraid to give their information to the government.

"We have to be able to work one-on-one in those difficult communities,” he said to the group. “And give them confidence and assurance that they do not need to fear."

Bastidas said she's working with the Latinx community. She said she wants to tell them census information is confidential.

"It is important for us,” she said. “It is important to do it. If you don't do it, you will miss support."

Everyone can expect a letter from the Census Bureau in March.

This year for the first time you can fill out the census online, over the phone, and by mail.