National League of Cities (NLC) Census Rapid Response Grant AgreementCity of Dubuque
ITEM TITLE:
SUMMARY:
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
NLC Census Rapid Response GrantA
Memo
Staff Memo
Grant Application
Vicinity Map
National League of Cities Guidance
National League of Cities Tips
Copyrighted
April 20, 2020
Consent Items # 6.
National League of Cities (NLC) Census Rapid Response
Grant Agreement
City Manager recommending approval of a Census Rapid
Response Grant agreement with the National League of
Cities (NLC) to reach historically undercounted populations
for the Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign. It is
further recommended that the City Council designate the
Planning Services Manager to sign the online Memorandum
of Understanding on behalf of the City of Dubuque.
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
Type
greement-MVM City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
bitil
All-A.aia City
111111
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: National League of Cities Census Rapid Response Grant Agreement
DATE: April 14, 2020
Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens recommends City Council approval of a
$5,000 Census Rapid Response Grant agreement with the National League of Cities
(NLC) to reach historically undercounted populations for the Census 2020 Complete
Count Campaign. It is further recommended that the City Council designate the
Planning Services Manager to sign the online Memorandum of Understanding on behalf
of the City of Dubuque.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
/-.
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager ---63°--/
SUBJECT: NLC Census Rapid Response Grant agreement
DATE: April 13, 2020
Dubuque
bend
AII•Aaterica City
2007*2012*2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval of a $5,000 Census Rapid
Response Grant agreement with the National League of Cities (NLC) to reach
historically undercounted populations for our Census 2020 Complete Count campaign.
The grant application, a vicinity map, and NLC materials are attached.
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved $24,420 in the Planning Services Department's FY20 budget
to retain a consultant to assist with the logistics, communication, marketing, outreach,
and advertising associated with a Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign. This
campaign is spreading the word about the importance of Census 2020 and seeking to
motivate residents to complete and return their Census forms.
The City Council approved a $14,420 contract with Powers of Communication for
creation of an Census 2020 Complete Count Committee. We formed an in-house
Project Work Group to work with our consultant to establish a Complete Count
Committee of community partners and to help develop a promotion, marketing and
outreach plan.
Planning Services Department budgeted $10,000 for promotion, marketing, and
outreach for the Census 2020 Complete Count campaign. Based on input from our
Complete Count Committee and Project Work Group, we identified a need for outreach
funding to increase participation of historically undercounted groups who are non-
English speaking, racial/ethnic minority, and/or low/moderate income persons.
DISCUSSION
With the imperative of a full and accurate Census count, the NLC is awarding $1.6
million in Census Rapid Response passthrough grants to support cities, towns, villages,
and local partners across the country to ensure that everyone is counted in 2020
Census. This NLC grant program will deliver urgent financial resources to the ground
quickly and with high impact focused on Get -Out -The -Count (GOTC) outreach to
1
historically undercounted communities and those considered "Hard to Count" (HTC).
The NLC goal is to ensure that all municipalities achieve a full and accurate count, and
the NLC will specifically be funding those targeting HTC communities. There would be
no cost to the City for use of these grant funds.
The City Council approved that staff seek a $5,000 NLC grant to support a collaborative
outreach process with a focus on traditionally undercounted community groups through:
• translation services for outreach to Marshallese, Hispanic and other non-English
speaking groups in our community; and
• participatory compensation such as stipends for "trusted voices" within these
specific community groups -- non-English speaking, racial/ ethnic minority,
and/or low/moderate income persons -- to serve as liaisons for these groups
The focus area for this grant agreement would be the portion of the community shown
on the enclosed vicinity map. Our historic downtown and surrounding mixed use
walkable neighborhoods are primarily in the City's Community Development Block Grant
(CDBG) target areas, which are >51 % low/moderate income households. The CDBG
target areas have our highest racial/ethnic minority and non-English speaking
populations. The estimated population in this 4.2-square mile area is 17,500.
RECOMMENDATION
The attached NLC Grantee Guidance Memo outlines adjustments for our grant activities
in light of COVID-19 safety guidelines. The attached NLC Tips for a Remote Census
and COVID-19, which lists ideas and resources for pivoting to remote census outreach.
This week, the NLC will send the City a short Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
via DocuSign, an online document signature software, that will help the NLC to process
your grant award electronically. The MOU document will include:
• Our grant amount
• Grant requirements, including any deliverables
• A copy of our original proposal
REQUESTED ACTION
The City must sign and return the completed MOU within 48 hours of receiving the
DocuSign email. The requested action is for City Council approval of the MOU for
Census Rapid Response Grant agreement and to designate the Planning Services
Manager to sign the online MOU on behalf of the City of Dubuque..
Attachments
cc: Guy Hemenway, Assistant Planner / Census 2020 Project Manager
F:\Users\LCARSTEN\WP\Census 2020\Memo MVM NLC Census rapid response grant app.doc
2
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
kretil
All -America City
II
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: National League of Cities Census Rapid Response Grant Proposal
DATE: March 9, 2020
Planning Services Manager Laura Carstens recommends City Council approval to
submit a $5,000 Census Rapid Response Grant proposal to the National League of
Cities to reach historically undercounted populations for the Census 2020 Complete
Count campaign.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Laura Carstens, Planning Services Manager
SUBJECT: NLC Census Rapid Response Grant proposal
DATE: March 6, 2020
Dubuque
AII-ALeerica City
I I / 1°F
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to request City Council approval to submit a $5,000
Census Rapid Response Grant proposal to the National League of Cities (NLC) to
reach historically undercounted populations for our Census 2020 Complete Count
campaign. The grant application and a vicinity map are enclosed.
BACKGROUND
The City Council approved $24,420 in the Planning Services Department's FY20 budget
to retain a consultant to assist with the logistics, communication, marketing, outreach,
and advertising associated with a Census 2020 Complete Count Campaign. This
campaign is spreading the word about the importance of Census 2020 and seeking to
motivate residents to complete and return their Census forms.
The City Council approved a $14,420 contract with Powers of Communication for
creation of an Census 2020 Complete Count Committee. We formed an in-house
Project Work Group to work with our consultant to establish a Complete Count
Committee of community partners and to help develop a promotion, marketing and
outreach plan. The Project Work Group members are: Laura Carstens, Planning
Services Manager; Guy Hemenway, Assistant Planner; Randy Gehl, Public Information
Officer; Craig Nowack, Cable TV Coordinator; Nikki Rosemeyer, GIS Coordinator/
Analyst; Alexis Steger, Housing & Community Development Director; Jerelyn O'Connor,
Neighborhood Development Specialist; and Kelly Larson, Human Rights Director.
DISCUSSION
Planning Services Department has budgeted $10,000 for promotion, marketing, and
outreach for the Census 2020 Complete Count campaign. Based on input from our
Complete Count Committee and Project Work Group, we identified a need for outreach
funding to increase participation of historically undercounted groups who are non-
English speaking, racial/ethnic minority, and/or low/moderate income persons.
1
With the imperative of a full and accurate Census count, the NLC is awarding $1.6
million in Census Rapid Response passthrough grants to support cities, towns, villages,
and local partners across the country to ensure that everyone is counted in 2020
Census.
This NLC grant program will deliver urgent financial resources to the ground quickly and
with high impact focused on Get -Out -The -Count (GOTC) outreach to historically
undercounted communities and those considered "Hard to Count" (HTC). The NLC goal
is to ensure that all municipalities achieve a full and accurate count, and the NLC will
specifically be funding those targeting HTC communities. There would be no cost to the
City for use of these grant funds.
RECOMMENDATION
The Project Work Group recommended that the City of Dubuque seek a $5,000 NLC
grant to support a collaborative outreach process with a focus on traditionally
undercounted community groups through:
• translation services for outreach to Marshallese, Hispanic and other non-English
speaking groups in our community; and
• participatory compensation such as stipends for "trusted voices" within these
specific community groups -- non-English speaking, racial/ ethnic minority,
and/or low/moderate income persons -- to serve as liaisons for these groups.
The focus area for this grant proposal would be the portion of the community shown on
the enclosed vicinity map. Our historic downtown and surrounding mixed use walkable
neighborhoods are primarily in the City's Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
target areas, which are >51 % low/moderate income households. The CDBG target
areas have our highest racial/ethnic minority and non-English speaking populations.
The estimated population in this 4.2-square mile area is 17,500.
REQUESTED ACTION
The requested action is for City Council approval to submit a $5,000 Census Rapid
Response Grant proposal to the NLC to reach historically undercounted populations for
Census 2020.
Please note: The NLC Census Rapid Response Grant program is an online application
that can't be saved; it must be completed and submitted at one sitting. Since time is of
the essence for this competitive grant program, and with Census 2020 promotion and
marketing already underway, we submitted the enclosed grant proposal on March 5. If
the City Council decides they do not want to make this funding request, we will pull the
proposal from consideration. Thank you.
Enclosures
cc: Guy Hemenway, Assistant Planner / Census 2020 Project Manager
F:1UsersILCARSTENIWPICensus 20201Memo MVM NLC Census rapid response grant app.doc
2
Census Rapid Response Grant Proposal Application
Welcome! NLC's Census Rapid Response Grant Program extends urgent financial resources for
cities, towns, villages, and their local partners to improve or increase Get Out The Count (GOTC)
activities in order to reach historically undercounted communities and hard -to -count (HTC)
communities.
GRANT AMOUNTS:
- $2,500
- $5,000
- $10,000
- $20,000
- $40,000
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling, on -going basis until all funds are granted, or by July 31,
2020, whichever comes first.
WHO CAN APPLY:
- Cities, towns, and villages
- Local partners working with city leaders (including but not limited to: nonprofit organizations,
community -based organizations, local social service providers, libraries, county offices,
fraternities and sororities, faith -based groups, parent and volunteer groups with tax status)
- Tribal governments and organizations
- NLC members and non-members eligible!
TO APPLY for this grant, please be prepared to provide the following information in our simple
application form:
- Specify which HTC population(s) your grant will target. You can target more than one group with
a single grant. Also check out CUNY's Hard -To -Count map to see high risk census tracts in your
area.
- Be able to explain how quickly your organization (city or otherwise) is able to receive and deploy
funds received. We want money to go from our account to yours quickly so you can use the funds
fast to reach your historically undercounted communities.
- Describe (in a few sentences) what kind of activity you will fund with this grant money (see
below for some examples).
- Tell us how much this/these activity/activities will cost (estimates are fine) -- don't forget to add
10% for overhead/operating costs!
- Give us a basic timeline of when these activities will happen. Remember, this is CRUNCH time!
Don't hesitate to spend this money fast!
- Provide your banking information so that upon grant approval, funding can begin processing
immediately (ALL applicants: please download the NLC Automated Clearing House (ACH)
form here. and upload it in your application. NON -MUNICIPAL applicants: please also prepare
your W-9 form found here.).
DELIVERABLES for this grant include (but are not limited to):
- Spend all the funds before July 31, 2020.
- Pay -it -forward: Notify a minimum of three (3) other city census offices or local partner
organizations that are NOT members of the Local Census Preparedness Network and that could
use additional funding for their HTC Census outreach of this grant opportunity. We want to make
sure that cities and organizations that may not be plugged in to the same networks that we're
plugged in to find out about this money.
- CensusRapidResponse@nlc.org must be included on the Pay -It -Forward emails.
- Publish a minimum of three (3) social media posts (ideally with images) of activities funded with
this grant.
- Use the hashtag #CensusRapidResponseNLC on all social media about events/activities funded
with this grant.
- Be available for one to three (1-3) check -in calls over the life of the grant.
- Respond to a short survey report about what you did with your grant award.
ACTIVITY IDEAS for Census 2020 Rapid Response grants:
- Buy 5 tablets and create 5 census kiosks to set-up around your city
- Increase your printing budget by $5,000! Print posters, fliers, door hangers or buttons for GOTC
activities in your community
- Hire additional staff for the duration of the Census to execute on your GOTC activities to reach
historically undercounted communities
- Host community census response parties (who doesn't love pizza while filling out their
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
2 3 4 5 6
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Please fill in the information for the primary applicant and partner
applicants below.
Cities that are not able to rapidly accept and deploy grant funding are encouraged to identify local
partners to accept and deploy funds rapidly as well as implement the activities you propose.
Name - Primary Point of Contact *
Guy Hemenway
First Last
Title of Primary Point of Contact *
Assistant Planner
Email - Primary Point of Contact *
ghemenwa@cityofdubuque.org
Phone - Primary Point of Contact *
563 - 589 - 4222
rrrr# ### ####
Name of Primary Applicant Organization, including department, if applicable. *
City of Dubuque, Iowa
Organization Web Site
..................................................
https://www.cityofdubuque.org/
Organization Address *
Planning Services Department
Street Address
50 W. 13th Street
...................................................................................................
Address Line 2
.......................................................................................
Dubuque
City
52001
Postal / Zip Code
Type of Organization *
City government
0 Non-profit organization
0 Tribal government
County office
Religious organization
Other
IA
State / Province / Region
United States
Country / Region
If applicable, include Secondary Applicant Information below.
Name - Secondary Point of Contact
First Last
Title of Secondary Point of Contact
Email - Secondary Point of Contact
Phone - Secondary Point of Contact
tt#ht ### ####
Name of Secondary Applicant Organization
Organization Web Site
Organization Address
...................................._
Street Address
Address Line 2
City
Postal / Zip Code
Type of Organization
O City government
O Non-profit organization
O Tribal government
O County office
O Religious organization
O Other
State 1 Province / Region
United States
Country / Region
How did you hear about the Census Rapid Response Grant program? *
O Local Census Preparedness Network Google Group
O Congressional City Conference (CCC) word-of-mouth
O NLCU session at CCC
O CCC handout/palm card
O NLC newsletter
O NLC Facebook
O NLC Twitter
O NLC Linkedln
O Census Counts
O Funder's Census Initiative
0 Web search result
`,_? Referred by another grantee
L) Other
Government Alliance on RacE
If referred by another grantee, include name of person, organization name, and city/jurisdiction.
1/6
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
1 ® 3 4 5 6
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Tell us about your town, jurisdiction, or targeted area.
Name of City, Jurisdiction, or Region grant will apply toward *
Dubuque
State or Territory *
[-Iowa
•
Population size of your area *
O Very small (under 1000)
J Small (1000-10,000)
O Medium (10,000-100,000)
O Large (100,000-300,000)
O Very large (300,000-1,000,000)
O Supersize (over 1,000,000)
Tell us about the size and area your activities will cover. For example: 10 block neighborhood in
the South Bronx; a Springfield branch library that serves 1000 people a week; all the kids in a
town of 2000 people. *
Our historic downtown and surrounding mixed use
walkable neighborhoods are primarily in the City's
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) target
areas, which are >51% low/moderate income
households. The CDBG target areas have our highest
racial/ethnic minority and non-English speaking
populations. The estimated population in this 4.2-square
mile area is 17,500.
Tell us about your organization's relationship with this area. *
Our CDBG target areas have our highest percentages of
low/moderate income, non-English speaking, and
homeless/sheltered populations. The CDBG target areas
are where the City of Dubuque and our numerous
community partners focus various assistance programs,
housing rehab, and reinvestment efforts.
2/6
- Host community census response parties (who doesn't love pizza while filling out their
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
1 2 0 4 5 6
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Tell us about the historically undercounted group/HTC community you
are targeting in your current or planned activities
The PRIMARY focus of this activity is to reach: *
O Children under 5
O Racial and/or ethnic minorities
O Non -English speakers
O Immigrants
O Homeless or unhoused
O Single -parent households
O Disabled
O LGBTQ youth
O Low-income households
O Formerly incarcerated
O Renters and residents who move often
O Alternative or overcrowded households
O Publicly inaccessible multifamily units or gated communities
•<✓ Persons displaced by natural disasters
O Other
The SECONDARY focus of this activity is to reach: *
O Children under 5
Q Racial and/or ethnic minorities
O Non -English speakers
O Immigrants
O Homeless or unhoused
O Single -parent households
O Disabled
0 LGBTQ youth
O Low-income households
O Formerly incarcerated
O Renters and residents who move often
O Alternative or overcrowded households
O Publicly inaccessible multifamily units or gated communities
O Persons displaced by natural disasters
O Other
The THIRD focus of this activity is to reach: *
0 Children under 5
O Racial and/or ethnic minorities
O Non -English speakers
O Immigrants
O Homeless or unhoused
O Single -parent households
O Disabled
O LGBTQ youth
O Low-income households
O Formerly incarcerated
O Renters and residents who move often
O Alternative or overcrowded households
O Publicly inaccessible multifamily units or gated communities
O Persons displaced by natural disasters
O Other
Why have you chosen to focus on this/these groups in your area? *
These groups historically have been our most
undercounted, underserved, and vulnerable residents.
These groups typically fear and distrust government, so
we must recruit trusted voices from within these groups to
"meet people where they are to achieve a complete
count. We need to provide paid translators for non-
English speaking groups and participatory compensation
for trusted voices to serve as liaisons for racial and ethnic
minorities, such as African Americans.
Tell us why - with more resources - your team is well -positioned to rapidly and effectively increase
the count among this historically undercounted community. *
Dubuque has successfully engaged diverse groups with
traditional and non-traditional methods that meet people
where they are - from high schools and universities, from
neighborhood associations to groups representing
blacks, Latinos, Marshallese, LGBTQ+ and those living in
poverty. Key partnerships to reach underrepresented
sectors were formed early and strengthened over time
through Inclusive Dubuque, Imagine Dubuque, faith -
based and immigrant support centers.
3/6
- Host community census response parties (who doesn't love pizza while filling out their
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
1 2 3 0 5 6
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Your idea to increase the count among historically undercounted
communities/HTCs in your area.
Tell us about the challenge you are facing to reach historically undercounted communities in your
Census 2020 GOTC efforts. *
...................................... .
These groups typically fear and distrust government and
"outsiders", so we continually work to build and
strengthen relationships with formal and informal
community leaders of traditionally marginalized
communities to develop culturally appropriate processes.
Several of our non-English speaking groups are not
translated by the Census Bureau, so we must retain
translators to develop materials and assist with
completion of Census forms.
Must be between 50 and 300 words, currently: 61.
Describe your proposed activity (or activities) and how you will execute it/them. Think impact,
think big, think fast!*
We envision having paid translators and trusted voices
assist individuals with completion of Census forms at
Kiosks (equipped with City iPads with Internet hot spots)
available at 3 key community facilities: Public Library,
Multicultural Family Center, and Community Health
Center. We also envision similar paid assistance at social
& cultural events: Millwork Night Market, Downtown
Farmers' Market, Marshallese Constitution Day,
Juneteenth, Dubuque Fest, Food Truck Fridays, etc.
Must be between 50 and 300 words, currently: 67.
What is the current status of your proposed activity? *
Idea stage
Planning stage
Already in progress
Other
Describe your timeline for rapidly deploying and using all the grant funds. (NOTE: All funds must
be used by July 31, 2020.) *
We plan to begin our activity in late March concurrent
with the federal and our local Census 2020 promotional
campaigns. We intend to have paid translators and
trusted voices assist at Kiosks (with City iPads) at the
Public Library, Multicultural Family Center, and
Community Health Center from April to May 2020. We
plan to have paid translators and trusted voices assist
with completion of Census forms using City iPads at
social & cultural events in April through June 2020.
Must be between 0 and 200 words, currently: 79.
Describe any existing city, regional, or local partners you are working with on this activity. Also
mention any future partners for this activity. *
Our CCC partners: Census Bureau, City of Dubuque,
Dubuque County, Dubuque Community Schools, Holy
Family Schools, Public Library, Multicultural Family
Center, Community Health Center, Community
Foundation, Presentation Lantern Center, Catholic
Charities, Dream Center, Fountain of Youth, Dubuque
Area Congregations United, Gaining Opportunities, Child
Care Resource and Referral, Dubuque County Early
Childhood, United Way, Marshallese Women of Faith,
East Central Intergovernmental Association.
Must be between 0 and 200 words, currently: 61.
The first biggest chunk of my spending will be used for: *
O Printing
O Technology (hardware and software)
O Increasing staff headcount for GOTC
O Buying food and supplies for community self -response activities
O Social media ad buys
O TV and radio ad buys
O Print media ad buys
O Translation for local languages
O Other
The second biggest chunk of my spending will be used for:
O Printing
O Technology (hardware and software)
O Increasing staff headcount for GOTC
O Buying food and supplies for community self -response activities
O Social media ad buys
O TV and radio ad buys
O Print media ad buys
O Translation for local languages
Other
Stipends for Trusted Voices
The third biggest chunk of my spending will be used for:
O Printing
O Technology (hardware and software)
O Increasing staff headcount for GOTC
O Buying food and supplies for community self -response activities
0 Social media ad buys
O TV and radio ad buys
O Print media ad buys
0 Translation for local languages
- Host community census response parties (who doesn't love pizza while filling out their
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
1 2 3 4 0 6
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Let's talk money.
How much funding are you requesting? *
$ 5000 . 00
Dollars Cents
Describe how rapidly your city or organization will be able to accept and deploy funds. Rapid = in
terms of days and weeks. *
The City of Dubuque can accept and deploy funds in a
matter of days to a few weeks.
Must be between 0 and 100 words, currently: 18.
ALL applicants: Upload your ACH form including banking information (PDF, .doc, or .docx only). "
Choose File i Dubuque IA ...st Form.pdf
NON -MUNICIPAL applicants: Upload your W-9 form (PDF, .doc, or .docx only).
Choose File ' No file chosen
5/6
- Host community census response parties (who doesn't love pizza while filling out their
census??). Coordinate a census response party with your local library and order $500 of pizza to
the library every Saturday between April and June for these parties!
- Give us your best idea! You are the expert on your community, so please tell us how you think
you can best reach HTCs in your area.
1 2 3 4 5 O
You and your Your Your HTC Your proposed Let's talk Final
organization area/jurisdiction community idea money Thoughts &
Submit
Is there anything else you want to share that we didn't ask about?
.................................................. .
To learn more about the lived experiences of diverse
groups and to discover what disparities exist in economic
wellbeing, housing, education, health, safe
neighborhoods, transportation, and arts and culture, the
2015 Community Equity Profile engaged 584 participants
through dialogues and collected 1,995 surveys. In 2016,
Inclusive Dubuque focused on providing equity learning
opportunities, tools, resources, and baseline data to help
community members and collaborative institutions
continue to advance equity in our region.
I'm not a robot
reCAPTCHA
Privacy - Terms
6/6
THE CITY OF
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2017*2019
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NLC
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CITIES STRONG TOGETHER
Grantee Guidance Document
Dear Census Rapid Response Grantee,
First, thank you for your dedication and hard work in support of a full and accurate 2020
Census. We know and appreciate that in the face of the novel coronavirus you are working
harder than ever to reach historically undercounted communities, to pivot your GOTC plans to
comply with stay -home orders and social distancing, and to keep your residents, staff, families,
and selves safe and healthy. Congratulations on your important work being awarded this grant.
Considering the coronavirus health response, we understand that census activities are changing
in unprecedented ways, from one day to the next, and that some of your grant -funded activities
will need to adjust to accommodate new guidelines set out by the CDC and the Census Bureau.
With this document we aim to give you some clarity and guidance on the National League of
Cities' (NLC) position on necessary changes to your originally proposed activities.
With regards to your NLC Census Rapid Response Grant award:
1. The funds are yours to spend on 2020 Census GOTC activities. You do not need to
return them to NLC, even if you've adjusted your plans away from your original proposal.
• If, however, you are no longer conducting or planning to conduct census
outreach activities and, therefore, not able to accept these funds, please notify us
immediately so we may reallocate the award.
2. You do not need to inform us at this time how your GOTC activities have changed from
your original strategy outlined in your grant application. We understand that this is a
critical and fast-moving time where the context for 2020 census operations can quickly
change from one day to the next.
• We do ask that you take 5 minutes to fill out our Grantee Survey so we can
assess the state of activity and need among our grantees.
1
3. The grant performance period will be extended to align with announced dates from the
U.S. Census Bureau for self -response. On March 20, 2020, the Census Bureau
announced an extension of self -response to August 14, 2020, which will also serve as
the end of the performance period for your NLC Census Rapid Response grant. If this is
adjusted further, the grant performance period will also extend.
4. If you are still weighing plans and options to adjust your GOTC activities in light of
COVID-19, we have gathered a wide range of remote GOTC ideas and resources
(available online and also attached to the award notification email).
5. In the case that activities you outlined in your grant application need to be adjusted to
follow the best practices of social distancing and other CDC and Census Bureau
recommendations, please make sure to include how your activities changed in the report
survey you will be asked to complete toward the end of the grant performance period.
6. If you want to inform us of significant changes to your plans, please go ahead and share
them with us! We would like to know how we can support you as well as tell the story of
how our community of grantees have been able to themselves rapidly respond and
adapt to the new reality of conducting the census in the context of the novel coronavirus.
Please reach out to censusrapidresponse@nlc.org.
7. For additional resources for municipal leaders responding to coronavirus concerns,
please check NLC's coronavirus resources page.
8. Our nlc.org/census page includes more materials specific to historically undercounted
communities and other partner resources. This is also where we will post general
updates about the grant.
9. We created the NLC Cities Count Census Communications Toolkit that will allow you to
customize fliers, posters, and social media with your own logo and contact information.
If you have any questions about your grant now or in the future, please do not hesitate to reach
out to Miki Noguchi at censusrapidresponse@nlc.orq.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and good luck on the count!
The Cities Count Team
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NLC Tips for a Remote
Get -Out -The -Count (GOTC) Effort
EVERY
PERSON
COUNTS.
RESPOND TO THE
2020 CENSUS.
Visit www.2020census.gov to respond
to the census safely and securely.
41
Please follow these guidelines to comply with and Census Bureau guidance on social
distancing while still pushing to achieve a complete and accurate count in the context of the
current coronavirus response. Please note that, as of March 20, 2020, the census has been
extended to August 14, 2020. Always check the latest operational updates from the Census
Bureau when planning your GOTC.
Remember, public gatherings of any kind are highly discouraged and, in many places,
prohibited by local orders. Please check the latest guidance from your local governing
authorities.
We know and appreciate that in the face of the novel coronavirus you are working harder than
ever to reach historically undercounted communities, to pivot your GOTC plans to comply with
stay -home orders and social distancing, and to keep your residents, staff, families, and selves
safe and healthy.
Stay safe, stay healthy, and good luck on the count!
The Cities Count Team
www.nlc.org/census
www.nlc.orq/census 1
Ideas for a Remote GOTC
Looking for ideas on how to adapt for a remote GOTC to reach historically undercounted
communities? Here are some great tips we've heard:
• Highlight this is the first online census, so people can complete it from the safety of
their own homes at 2020census.gov.
o Responding by phone is also safe, easy, and fast.
• Increase social media ad and evening news ad buys to target people who are home
to remind them to respond to the census, or to go out and check their mail.
• Increase drive -time radio ad buys or billboards on high -traffic routes — many people
are still required to commute and work in -person.
• Leave literature where people will still need to go, such as grocery stores, post
offices, gas stations, and banks (remember to ask permission).
o Don't forget the essential workers themselves. When you speak with these
establishments, ask them to encourage their employees to complete the census.
• Big or small, count 'ern all! Babies and kids under 5 are at even greater risk of
undercount because of this changing context. CountAllKids.orq has put together a great
toolkit of resources.
• Print and place stickers on diaper bank and food bank packaging. Many young
children have young parents who are also renters, low income, and housing unstable
even before COVID-19.
• Place stickers on grab -and -go meals for kids who rely on free breakfast and lunch
programs.
• Distribute small hand sanitizers and packets of tissues with stickers or instructions on
how to take the census.
• Use messaging specifically about COVID-19, encouraging people to continue "social
distancing" while going online or calling to complete the census.
• Train volunteers or staff to flier the neighborhood instead of canvassing (see
Resources below for fliers and posters you can customize).
• Keep your library Wi-Fi signal open for people to use outside or in the parking lot.
• Use mobile vans with strong Wi-Fi hotspots that can drive into neighborhoods and
temporarily provide a hotspot that people can use to finish their census online. Partner
with local groups to set and communicate specific times in specific low -response areas.
• Learn more about text -banking by training volunteers to use apps built for organizing.
• Set up remote phone -banking with local nonprofits and community groups.
• Start a response rate challenge among your residents by offering a prize to the
neighborhood with the highest self -response.
• Use toolkits that exist. The U.S. Census Bureau, Sesame Street, NALEO, and other
organizations have done the work for us to make awesome video and audio PSAs,
beautifully designed printed materials, and messaging -research -backed social media
that is there for us to use for free.
• Continue to message that there is no citizenship question.
www.nlc.orq/census 2
Resources
Below are some resources to help you develop materials or plans to shift to remote GOTC.
• NLC Cities Count Census Communications Toolkit: The National League of Cities has
created a toolkit library of census fliers, posters, and social media for you to use that you
can customize with your own logo and contact information.
• Digital Organizing Trainings: Census Counts has a series of recorded webinars focused
on digital organizing, including one specifically on adjusting GOTC during COVID-19.
• Census Campaign in a Box: Census Counts' toolkit of digital organizing resource to help
your organization reach key constituencies.
• CensusU Digital Help Desk: Census Counts' online platform to help answer your specific
census organizing questions.
• Organizing in the Remote: States COUNT Action Network's library of social media
graphics, templates, and other remote organizing materials. This is a crowd -sourced
repository that you can also contribute your organization's ideas to.
• Hard -To -Count Map: The City University of New York has an incredible map that is
updated daily with the response rates and undercount risk groups for every census tract
in the country.
• ROAM Mapper: The U.S. Census Bureau's map gives detailed background information
on every tract.
Guidance for Your GOTC Plans
Here are a few helpful reminders as you restructure your plans:
• You cannot hire your own enumerators. Only US Census Bureau employees who
have taken a sworn oath may directly assist with responding to the census.
• You can hire additional staff or give volunteer stipends to encourage others to take
the census online or over the phone with the US Census Bureau, as well as direct
people with language assistance for how people can access and respond to the census.
• Avoid the word "citizen" when referring to inhabitants/residents of your target area.
This can be confusing for people concerned that the census asks about citizenship
status (it does not).
• No unique I.D. number? No problem! Households can still respond to the census with
just their address.
www.nlc.orq/census 3
Historically Undercounted Communities
Getting a full and accurate count for the 2020 Census was never going to be easy, particularly
for historically undercounted communities, and now COVID-19 has increased the challenges
municipalities and community organizations are facing to ensure that everyone is counted.
As a reminder, historically undercounted communities (sometimes referred to as "HUs") include,
but are not limited to:
• Newborns, babies, toddlers, and kids under 5 years old —in fact, this is the largest
undercounted group in the country, and the undercount risk increases for children of
color
• Renters and people who move often
• People who live in large multi -unit buildings
• Unhoused and people experiencing homelessness
• People who don't speak English or with low English proficiency
• Low-income households
• Immigrants
• LGBTQ youth
• Mixed immigration status households
• People of color and ethnic communities
• Rural communities
• College students who live in off -campus housing
• People affected by natural disaster
• Low -literacy households
• People without internet access at home
These groups are also known as hard -to -count (HTC) communities. The onus is on us all to
make sure that everyone is counted by implementing a variety of outreach methods that work
for different groups.
www.nlc.orq/census 4