As 2020 Census mailers are days away from reaching people’s mailboxes, members of the Davenport/Bettendorf/Scott County Complete Count Committee gave an update on initiatives aimed at increasing reporting.
In the 2010 Census, Iowa had an 83.3 percent return rate, while Scott County’s return rate was 81.5. In parts of Davenport, the return rate exceeded the state but sadly fell well below the state rate in some Census tracts to as low as 54 percent in one.
Alderman Marion Meginnis, 3rd Ward, said a locally-produced public service announcement has been completed to share with local media outlets as well as a locally produced billboard promoting awareness is now up in several places in Davenport and select locations in other areas of the Quad-Cities. Also, the City intends to partner with Davenport Schools to provide items to students that will raise awareness as the counting begins.
Meginnis explained that several neighborhoods that were under-counted will be targeted with door hangers later this month.
Local television has also begun airing PSAs provided by the Census Bureau.
The Davenport Complete Count Committee has provided information in the Waste Commission of Scott County’s January calendar mailing, hosted a booth at Bald Eagle Days, developed an outreach plan with Davenport Schools and worked with United Way to get information to participants in the VITA tax preparation program. Committee members are engaged in creating Census-related events to engage their constituents and in meeting with businesses and landlords to partner with them for better Census results.