FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Maryland Department of Planning to Administer $5 Million Census Grant Program

Maryland Department of Planning sent this bulletin at 02/11/2019 01:46 PM EST

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Press Release


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact 

David Buck

(410) 767-4395 (o)

(443) 463-7139 (c)

Maryland Department of Planning to Administer $5 Million
Census Grant Program

Local Governments and Nonprofits May Apply
for Matching Funds through March 1;
Grants to be Awarded by April 1

(February 11, 2019) Annapolis, MD  - The Maryland Department of Planning (Planning) today announced the opening of the 2020 Census Grant Program to support the accurate counting of the state and its local jurisdictions for the 2020 Census.

The 2020 Census Grant Program Panel was established and funded following the passage of Senate Bill 855 (Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2018). The grant panel is comprised of five members:

  • Chairman Steven Jost, Senior Vice President for Content Strategy at Subject Matter and former top official at the U.S. Census Bureau
  • Robert McCord, Secretary, Maryland Department of Planning
  • Victor Valentine, Director of Engagement and Policy for the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers
  • Michelle Mendez, Managing Attorney for the Catholic Legal Immigration
    Network, Inc.
  • Tony Baysmore, Director, Governmental Relations and Constituent Service for Baltimore County Public Schools

“The Grant Panel is seeking innovative outreach efforts from trusted local organizations that will encourage the least likely to respond to the 2020 Census to step up, be counted, and help their community,” said Grant Panel Chairman Steven Jost.

Local governments and nonprofit organizations may apply to the Grant Panel through March 1 by going to planning.maryland.gov/MSDC/Pages/census/census-grant-2020.aspx to apply for a portion of the $5 million in matching funds.

“We are looking forward to supporting proposals that will increase response rates to provide the most accurate picture of every community throughout the state,” said Planning Secretary Rob McCord.

The Census Grant Panel will award grants to eligible applicants to conduct census outreach activities throughout Maryland to:

  • Ensure a fair, accurate, and inclusive count for Maryland
  • Increase the response rate of hard-to-count communities and populations in Maryland

The Grant Panel shall make decisions on the award recipients by April 1 and funding will be allocated after July 1. Grant awards will range from a suggested minimum of $25,000 to a suggested maximum of $250,000.

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