Monroe County pushes for 60 percent census response rate
STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WOLF) — As the deadline for census responses quickly approaches, Monroe County is making a push to get more people involved.
Right now the County is at 52.6 percent.
East Stroudsburg University Senior Jamyrah Rhyanes is turning her graphic design talents into a Federal money maker for Monroe County.
“I said this is the perfect opportunity to inform the American people on how we can help each other and bring funding to our communities," said Rhyanes.
Rhyanes and a couple of her classmates are launching a marketing campaign, after receiving a Census Outreach Grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
The goal is to get a 60 percent response rate from the more than 56,000 households in the County.
“We came up with the multi informational to broadcast through the census and it went very well," said Rhyanes
The County said in order to get that 60 percent response rate, about 4,000 additional households will have to respond compared to what it had in 2010.
“We wanted to challenge ourselves and try and get the most, the highest, most accurate count from Monroe County possible," said Nate Staruch, Monroe County Infrastructure Planner.
Staruch said 55.6 percent of households responded in 2010.
“If we miss out and don’t get the opportunity to count 100 people, the County will miss out on the opportunity to attain funding for those folks," said Staruch.
That money goes to fund things, like education, social service programs and transportation.
“We got 30 days left and if everybody could just do their best to try and fill that census out, it takes about 10 minutes, they’re helping their community out for ten years," said Staruch.
The County is reminding residents who are hesitant about filling it out that all census employees have to take a lifetime oath and can face up to five years in prison for disseminating information.
