Olmsted County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee presents campaign results

  • News
  • Dec 4, 2020
2020 Census document

At yesterday’s Olmsted County Board of Commissioners meeting, the Olmsted County 2020 Census Complete Count Committee (CCC) presented the results of the local community engagement and awareness campaign. 
 
Data show that Minnesota had the highest self-response rate in the nation at 75.1%. Self-response means households that completed the census on their own – online, by mail, or by phone. Olmsted County had an even higher self-response rate of 78%. Census data are used to determine congressional representation and result in $20 billion in federal funding every year to Minnesota for local programs such as housing, education, transportation, healthcare, public safety, and others. 
 
Olmsted County’s CCC was comprised of community members, business and non-profit leaders, and local government. The CCC worked together for more than a year to ensure an accurate count of Olmsted County residents. 
 
Outreach activities included:

  • Partnering with trusted community leaders and connectors in historically undercounted communities such as renters, young adults, immigrants and refugees, and communities of color. These community connectors distributed census information through social media channels, virtual meetings, and other strategies. The Rochester Area Foundation supported this initiative. 
  • Implementing a digital media campaign via the Rochester Post Bulletin and iHeart Media. 
  • Conducting outreach with the Rochester Downtown Alliance and United Way to encourage residents living and working downtown to complete the census. 
  • Distributing information and resources through Olmsted County departments and programs as well as a variety of other partners including the Channel One Meals on Wheels program, Rochester Public Library, Rochester Public Schools, and the Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association.  

 
Individuals and agencies also shared social media messages across multiple platforms to amplify the need for everyone to complete the census. Messaging was coordinated in partnership with the We Count MN campaign conducted by the state. 
 
“There is no doubt that the strong survey response from Olmsted County residents was influenced by the partnerships and efforts of the Complete Count Committee. Together they raised awareness about the importance of counting everyone and succeeded in getting a very good response rate in Rochester and Olmsted County. Thanks to them, our community and state will see the benefits,” said the Chair of Olmsted County’s Community Complete Count Committee Sheila Kiscaden.