Local Complete Count Committee FAQ's

What is a Local Complete Count Committee?

A local complete count committee (LCCC) is a committee used to help educate and spread awareness about an upcoming census. These committees should be made up of leaders and trusted voices within the community who represent a wide spectrum of groups and networks. It is especially important to include organizations that can assist with educating and identifying hard-to-count populations.

What are hard-to-count populations?

These are populations that are hard to locate, interview, persuade, or contact.

ACCG has additional information on hard-to-count communities on the ACCG 2020 Census webpage and through the General County Government Magazine.

Who should create a LCCC?

Any organization or group that wants to coordinate efforts to educate and inform the public about the upcoming 2020 Census. While there are no restrictions on who can form a LCCC, in the past most have been formed by government groups. During the 2010 Census, there were 77 county, 22 joint county-city, 20 city, 53 higher education, 11 ethnic groups, and 7 other organizations that formed LCCCs.

What’s the process for creating a LCCC?

Although there is no formally required process, many governments have passed a resolution to create the committee. The government entity leading the charge in creating the committee can invite elected officials and local leaders to participate in the committee.

Sample Resolutions:

Blank Sample Resolution

Fulton County Resolution

Camden County Resolution

Sample Invitation Letter

Sample Agenda for Initial Meeting

What’s the structure of a LCCC?

The LCCC should include representatives from a wide range of organizations, groups, and trusted voices that have connections within the community. There are no size requirements as to how small or how large the committee must be. The LCCC should have a chairman to direct the work of the committee and to serve as a liaison to the Census Bureau. The committee should also have subcommittees to focus on outreach efforts to different segments of the community. The U.S. Census Bureau has created a Local Complete Count Committee Guide and a Timeline to provide assistance to LCCCs in their mission.

Who should be a member of the LCCC?

This question will change from community to community, but in general your county needs to include people who have wide networks, are seen as leaders in the community, and who are considered to be a trusted voice. To get the best census results you need to cast a wide net to ensure that there’s a variety of organizations represented. Examples of groups to include are as follows:

Georgia Family Connection and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce are urging their members in every county to be participate in LCCCs formed in their communities.

Why should my county include the local library in the LCCC?

Libraries across the state are gearing up to assist with census outreach and education efforts. Libraries also have computers available for public use that can be helpful to counties with limited internet or computer access for its residents. Find contact information for your local libraries here and here.

A list of library systems that are open to the public can be found here, which includes a list of available services. All library systems are providing Wi-Fi internet access from their parking lots. Here's the map of specific library locations.

What does the LCCC need to do?

First, the LCCC needs to get organized and develop a plan for outreach efforts within the community. It is recommended that the LCCC invite a representative of the Census Bureau to the initial kickoff meeting to provide information and guidance. Once established, the main objective of the committee will be to educate the public about the census and to identify areas or communities where additional efforts may be needed. There are many tools available to help your committee analyze previous census efforts and participation in your county. You can find several tools below.

The first step is to discuss how having a LCCC may benefit your county, whether the committee should be formed jointly with cities within your county, and who should be a part of the committee. Once that is determined, your next step would be to authorize the creation of the committee and invite members of the committee to participate in a kickoff meeting. It is recommended that the LCCC invite a representative of the Census Bureau to the initial kickoff meeting to provide information and guidance. If you need guidance at any stage of forming a LCCC, including assistance with your initial meeting, contact the Atlanta Regional Office at 1-800-424-6974.

Will LCCC members have to help with filling out census forms or go door-to-door to collect census results?

No. The work of the committee is to education and inform. The committee is not involved in the actual collection of the census data.

Is data or marketing information available that can be used by my LCCC?

Yes. There are numerous resources that your LCCC can use to inform the public about the 2020 Census. This includes prefabricated and customizable media available for download or print through the census.georgia.gov website, the US. Census Bureau, and everyonecounts.ga.

Are there any resources that will help my LCCC answer questions about the 2020 Census?

Yes. The Census Bureau provides fact sheets and general information through their website on everything from how different groups are being counted to how the information provided is protected by federal law.

What type of census activities are LCCCs having to promote the 2020 Census?

LCCCs across the state have been hosting census launch parties, information sessions, participating in parades and festivals, setting up booths at high school football and basketball games, asking area businesses to sponsor and host events, and speaking at civic, religious, and community events. Some LCCCs have even built websites and recorded videos about the census. Examples of efforts being made by LCCCs are provided below.

Is grant funding available for my LCCC?

There is currently no grant funding available from the state or federal government. However, there are nonprofit groups that have either received grant funding or have grant funding available for outreach efforts regarding specific audiences. Check with these groups within your community to determine if there is a way that your county can partner or benefit from this funding.