To be sure every Alaskan is counted in both the 2020 Census and the annual American Community Survey (ACS), we all need to step up and do our part. To help accomplish this task, Foraker has pulled together a diverse group of Alaska organizations to address critical elements that are necessary for an accurate count. The Alaska Census Working Group has pinpointed issues that could result in undercounting, especially in rural areas. To learn more about the activities of the working group, visit this new page on our website. If you have ideas or comments on how to achieve accurate counts in the both the 2020 Census and the ACS, or if you want to know more about the working group, contact Mike Walsh, Vice President/Director of Public Policy, at 907-388-5561 or mwalsh@forakergroup.org…. Read more »

Last month we wrote about several issues related to the 2020 Census. This month we want to emphasize that the time is now to let your voice be heard. Even though the major census (the Decennial Census) occurs in 2020, each year the American Community Survey (ACS) is conducted. And an accurate count in this survey is critically important to Alaska. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, “when Americans respond to the ACS, they are doing their part to help the community plan hospitals and schools, support school lunch programs, improve emergency services, build bridges, and inform businesses looking to add jobs and expand to new markets, and more.” The bureau points out that the ACS generates data that is used to distribute more than $400 billion in federal and state… Read more »

It may seem a ways off, but planning for the 2020 Census is in full swing – and it’s important that Alaska nonprofits are aware of how the census affects them. Most importantly, the Decennial Census and its counterpart, the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS), have a significant impact on the amount of federal dollars Alaska receives with much of the funding directed to our nonprofits. With that in mind, Foraker has made the census one of its public policy priorities. Specifically, we are committed to ensuring that everyone in Alaska is counted and that the annual ACS estimates are accurate for Alaska communities. The census is important because it helps decision makers, businesses, and civic leaders better understand their communities and the people who live there. What can you… Read more »