Berrien Community Foundation Offering Mini-Grants To Help With 2020 Census Count

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Berrien County could lose out on millions of dollars in the next decade if the 2020 Census is undercounted locally. Because of that, the Berrien Community Foundation is working as the Census Hub to mobilize communities to make sure everyone is counted. BCF president Lisa Cripps-Downey says nonprofits like churches and schools will be key contact points for residents who might not fill out the census form, and they will have mini-grants to support efforts to educate people about the importance of the census and plans to “get out the count.” The grants will focus on organizations serving “hard-to-count populations” like low-income individuals and families, homeless people, young kids, people of color, college students, and people with mental or physical disabilities. There will be a series of information sessions as follows:

Monday, June 24, 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., New Buffalo Township Library
Monday, June 24, 4:00 to 5:30 PM, Berrien Springs RESA
Tuesday, June 25, 3:00 to 4:30 PM or 5:00 to 6:30 PM, Benton Harbor, Kinexus
Wednesday, June 26, 2:00 to 3:30 PM or 4:30 to 6:00 PM, Niles District Library
Wednesday, July 10, 3:30 to 5:00 PM, Coloma Public Library, 151 W Center St, Coloma