The countdown to the 2020 Census is officially underway.
In exactly one year, Census forms will be sent out to every household in the United States. In Pennsylvania, that effort is being spearheaded by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
Some may question the importance of a Census, but Deputy Secretary for Community Affairs Rick Vilello can’t stress it enough.
“It isn’t this thing that you can’t touch and feel,” Vilello said. “It’s real dollars that effect every community, every single day.”
He said for everybody that is not counted, Pennsylvania will lose $2,093. That money could be put towards education, healthcare and infrastructure.
One issue lingering over this population count is whether a citizenship question should be included.
The state will open nine Census offices in Pennsylvania, including one in Cranberry Township.