National League of Cities Census Rapid Response Grant ProposalCopyrighted
March 16, 2020
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 10.
ITEM TITLE: National League of Cities Census Rapid Response Grant
Proposal
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval to submit a Census
Rapid Response Grant proposal to the National League of
Cities to reach historically undercounted populations for the
Census 2020 Complete Count campaign.
SUGGESTED DISPOSITION: Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
NLC Census Rapid Response Grant Proposal-MVM City Manager Memo
Memo
Staff Memo Staff Memo
Application Supporting Documentation
Vicinity Map 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 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.
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
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.
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THE CITY OF
DUB
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Masterpiece on the Mississippi
0 950 1,900 3,800
Feet
Dubuque
Itmettl
ulMvia City
2007.2012.2013
2017*2019
A
1:40,000