Berrien County is gearing up for the 2020 census, a national count of each person living in the U.S. that is conducted every 10 years.

Things like school lunches, medical care, educational programs, and roads can only be fully funded when everyone is counted. Currently, Berrien County receives $44 million/year based on the 2010 census. That's $440 million at risk due to residents not completing their census form.

Now is the time for action to get a complete count in Berrien County:

• The census starts Thursday, March 12. That’s the day the mailing starts.
• The census is confidential by law. Individual household data cannot be shared with anyone.
• Census data is used to determine our fair share of federal funds and our state and federal legislative representation. Census-based federal funding includes roads, school lunches, education programs, WIC, SNAP, Head Start, housing, transportation, libraries, emergency management, and much more.
• Each home will receive instructions for completing the census.
• In Benton Harbor, Benton Heights, and the townships of Bainbridge, Pipestone, Sodus, and Weesaw, residents will get a paper survey. Residents can fill it out and return it in the envelope provided, complete it online, or via phone.
• In the rest of Berrien County, residents will get a letter with a unique ID code to complete the census online or via phone.

If you have questions, please contact Kathy Stady with the Berrien Community Foundation at 269.266.9062 or visit BeCountedBerrien.org