TEXARKANA - Several "Respond to the Census" locations will be open 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday to ensure more people are counted.
City officials here say it's as easy as driving or walking through certain areas
Walk trough locations on Saturday are:
- Veros, 2106 New Boston Road , Texarkana, Texas
- Texarkana Central Mall (in front of Bealls Store), 2400 Richmond Road , Texarkana, Texas
Drive-through locations are:
- Liberty-Eylau High School (parking lot by the tennis courts), 2905 Leopard Drive, Texarkana, Texas
- Arkansas High School (circle drive parking lot on Jefferson Ave.), 1500 Jefferson Ave., Texarkana, Arkansas
Each location will have at least one certified census taker and a member of the joint Complete Count Committee to help residents complete the census and answer any questions, city officials say.
There will be some giveaways for those who come out and respond to the census. "You can bring your census number and respond, or if you do not have it, you can respond with your home address," according to a news release.
Officials encourage all who come out to practice safety by social distancing and wearing a mask.
The local census self-response rate is about 5% lower than the final rate for 2010.
The census count, conducted every 10 years, determines many things.
"Our population count will determine the amount of federal funding Texarkana receives over the next 10 years. An undercount would mean less money for health care, education, school nutrition, as well as other local needs like fire departments, roads, housing and other infrastructural needs," according to a news release from Texas-side City Hall.
"With the unknown, long-term impact of the pandemic and high unemployment, it is important that we get our fair share of federal funds."
With all the drama this year, city officials say the community cannot afford to miss out on this funding opportunity.
(Visit my2020census.gov to fill out the form online. For help responding to the census, customer service representatives are available every day: English, (844) 330-2020; Spanish, (844) 468-2020. For more information, please contact Vashil Fernandez at 903-798-3904.)