Untitled Document

Could your next five minutes bring Idaho Mucho Dinero?
The Census thinks so

By: Jasmine Platt
ITD Civil Rights

Do you remember 2010?

We couldn’t get Lady Gaga off the radio, this “Facebook” thing was really taking off, everyone was obsessed with New Jersey, and half of our new ITD staff was still in high school (scary).

It was also the year of the last U.S. Census – and hasn’t a lot changed since then?

The time has come yet again to count all Idahoans! Our exploding population has one great thing to give us (besides food trucks and microbreweries), and that’s an opportunity for a LOT of new funding.

Did you know that Idaho will receive $1,473 per person, per year in Federal funding based on our Census count?

That’s $14,730 the state will receive over the next decade for each of our employees who takes the Census.

If every ITD employee sets aside the five minutes or less to take the 2020 Census, we could help Idaho receive almost $24M over the next 10 years! This funding goes toward critical government programming based on population, including the following USDOT programs and recipients:

Funding for highway planning and construction
Funding for public transit
Funding for services in rural areas (which is a large part of our state!)
Funding for services for the elderly and disabled
Funding for motor-carrier safety
Funding for state and community highway safety programs
Funding for federal transit in metropolitan areas
Funding for alternatives to commuting for job access

..and more!

To make the deal even sweeter, the Census is available online for the first time this year!

In the last few weeks, you should have received a mailer from the U.S. Census Bureau with a personalized code to enter into the Census website. If you do not recall getting one, more will be sent in the coming weeks. Taking the Census is fast, easy, and important!

Visit the Census website for more information or head straight to the response portal.

This is our last chance to represent Idaho in the census until 2030, so let’s make Idaho count! Let’s represent, ITD! Spread the word to friends and family!