Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard and her Coalition for Economic Development will host a public forum on Tuesday, May 14 providing information on the upcoming 2020 census count and its importance in Albany-Dougherty county.

The national census, which requires households to report its total number of occupants, occurs every ten years and serves as the official population count for states and their municipalities.

“Because population total is a discerning factor in the allocation of federal funds and resources, it is very important that our community be fully accounted for,” said Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard. “Not only is the census count a factor in resource allocation, but also a factor in representation on the local, state and federal government levels.

Therefore, we want to be sure our voice is heard through accurate census reporting."

The census is set to officially begin on January 21, 2020 and will conclude with the final count on April 1 of that year, known as “U.S. Census Day.”

The town hall-style event will offer information on when citizens can begin reporting for the census, what to expect during the process and the importance of accurate reporting for the state and community.

Panelists will include Anna Wrigley Miller and Rusty Haygood, co-chairs of the Georgia complete count committee.

The program is an edition in a series of forums organized by the Mayor’s Coalition for Economic Development designed to increase public awareness of matters relating to economic development or economic impact in our community.

The May 14 forum is free to the public and will be held from 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. in room 100 of the Government Center, located at 222 Pine Avenue in downtown Albany.