POWERGRAMS

27 digital platforms." Since March, the company has been spreading the word about the census through Alabama NewsCenter and social media, as well as Powerlines, its employee website. "Having the leadership and support of Alabama Power and other Alabama companies has been a key to our eff orts," Boswell said. "Alabama Power has been a consistent supporter of Alabama Counts and the 2020 census since we started back in 2018. The company clearly understands the stakes and impact that the 2020 census will have in our state. We are thankful for the continued support of an organization with such a wide reach, infl uence and impact in all areas of Alabama." Why does the census ma er? Boswell said the census truly counts for Alabama. A census has been conducted of the United States' population every 10 years since 1790. As mandated by the U.S. Constitution, it counts every man, woman and child living in the country. By taking part in the census, Alabamians can help the state receive up to $13 billion in federal funding for schools, health care, infrastructure and community programs, Boswell said. The state's population determines the number of seats it will receive in Congress. In addition, retailers and other businesses use population information to help them decide where to relocate or expand operations. Boswell said at the end of May, 58.5% of Alabamians had responded to the census – far short of what the state needs to maintain its current representation in Congress. "We are, of course, aiming for as close to 100% as possible," Boswell said. "We need maximum participation to ensure Alabama gets its fair share of federal dollars for schools, health care, infrastructure and communities. Many projections have the state losing a congressional representative if the participation rate is the same as the 72% overall participation rate in 2010." Alabamians can complete the census by phone or mail. They have the option for the fi rst time to respond online, which Boswell hopes will lead to a higher response rate. The process takes about 6 minutes. The 10-question census asks for basic demographic information, including the name, age, race and gender of everyone living in a household. The information is secure and fully protected by law and cannot be shared with any other agencies. Latham said Alabama Power is proud to stand behind the state in this eff ort. "We believe that it's imperative to support the state's outreach eff orts because we know that what's good for Alabama is good for the company," Latham said. "Now more than ever, we see how important it is for the state to get its fair share in federal funding and to have a strong voice in Congress, and the way we do that is by ge ing a full count in the census." To complete the census, go to www.my2020census.gov, call toll-free at 844-330-2020 or mail the paper form that was sent to their homes statewide.

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