State funding of $2.5 million in grants of up to $250,000 is now available to support census outreach to at-risk communities. Go to http://www.sec.state.ma.us/census2020/grant-program.html for the application. More information is below. This is an important opportunity for our Network – let’s use it to get as complete and accurate a count as our region deserves!
MA 2020 Census Grant Information for Applicants
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has created a statewide competitive grant program for the purpose of ensuring a complete and accurate count in the 2020 census known as the Complete Count Grant Program (CCGP). The Commonwealth encourages grant applications for participation in CCGP and the 2020 Census. The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years and is a critical function of the Constitution.
Complete Count Grant Program Purpose
The CCGP is a competitive, statewide program which awards grant funding to eligible entities for the purpose of ensuring a complete and accurate count in the 2020 Census by supporting outreach efforts in communities that are at significant risk of being undercounted. These at risk communities are considered Hard to Count (HTC) populations which pertain to but not restricted to the groups listed below:
- Recent immigrants (including undocumented residents)
- Populations speaking limited to no English
- Residents in “group quarters”
- Children under the age of 5
- Renters and those who move frequently
- People with low incomes
- Formerly incarcerated persons
- Persons with disabilities
Entities Eligible to Apply
(I) Non-profit Organizations
Organizations that demonstrate direct access to HTC populations through media, mailings, canvassing, phone banking, or public forums.
- Non-profit organizations recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
- Non-profit grant recipients are not required to be based within the Commonwealth, but all grant funds must be utilized in operations within the Commonwealth.
(II) Publicly funded Organizations
Organizations that provide direct service to hard-to-count populations, including but not limited to, public libraries, workforce centers, community-based health centers, and homeless shelters.
Funds Available
$2.5 million in total available funds. The total grant amount to a single recipient shall not exceed 10 per cent of the total available ($250,000.00).
Deadline to Apply
Applications are due to the Secretary’s Office on Friday December 20 , 2019 by 5pm. A postmark is sufficient.
Criteria
Eligible entities may receive funding through this grant program for planned work in the following areas:
- Conducting planned outreach to HTC populations through media, mailings, canvassing, phone banking, or public forums.
- Providing census information and articulating what key service centers and access points in the community should be targeted to provide such information.
- Tailoring outreach and support to homeless populations, immigrant communities including households with limited English, individuals with disabilities, individuals with difficulty accessing the internet or otherwise completing the form, or any other HTC populations specified or otherwise.
- Showing a trusted and established track record of relationships with the above mentioned communities and populations.
Grant funds will be awarded, to the extent practicable, to ensure the following:
- Proportionate funding based on the distribution of HTC communities throughout the Commonwealth.
- Targeted investments in areas with no federal area census office.
- Highest priority will be given to applications that demonstrate a track record of success in serving individuals in historically HTC communities.
- Identify solutions that directly address barriers to a complete count in 2020 including but not limited to: usability of the digital platform, impacts of a federal citizenship question, and reduced federal resources.
Applications will be evaluated based on their fulfillment of the criteria provided in the CCGP’s authorizing legislation. Applications will be considered holistically. CCGP’s program funds will not be awarded based specifically on individual line items.
Commitment
The following factors will also be considered when selecting grant recipients:
- Originality of proposal within targeted HTC populations and communities.
- Appropriateness of proposed grant activities, feasibility of executing proposed grant activities, and the potential to successfully increase Census response in HTC areas.
- Participation in evaluation interviews concerning strategies, execution or strategies, and accomplishments.
- All grant funds being expended by June 30, 2020.
- Applicants must provide to the Secretary a final report within 30 days of completion of all grant funds, no later than July 31, 2020. A template will be provided for reporting purposes.
