United Way helps get out the count for 2020 census

In partnership with several local foundations, the United Way for Greater Austin is promoting the 2020 U.S. census by awarding grants to 17 community groups and complete count committees participating in get-out-the-count efforts. The grants, totaling $395,000, are going to grassroots organizations targeting hard-to-count communities in five Texas counties (Bastrop, Caldwell, Hays, Travis and Williamson). “The goal of these grants is to ensure that every person in Central Texas in counted in the 2020 Census,” according to the news release. Mariana Salazar, United Way’s Census 2020 project director, said, “If the people in our community are undercounted, our region risks cuts to programs that our entire community relies on. We need an accurate count so Central Texans can get an adequate level of federal funding for public programs and a fair amount of representation in our local, state, and federal governments.”