Texas Border Business
Who: US Census Bureau staff and Census Partners
What: US Census 2020 Reminder Parade and Census Response Assistance
Why: 2020 CENSUS IS CRITICAL FOR YOUR COMMUNITY.
Census responses are used to produce statistics about how many people live in what areas and who they are by age, sex, race, and ethnicity. When those statistics are combined with other data, policymakers are better armed to make decisions about how to allocate billions of dollars in federal funds for critical public services such as hospitals, schools, road repairs, and emergency response services for the next ten years. The US Census Bureau 2020 Reminder Parade will travel through different low responding communities in the Rio Grande Valley, especially rural colonias and remote locations. Various sheriff offices, police, and fire departments will participate along with Census Bureau employee vehicles decorated with 2020 Census messages such as the 2020Census.gov website and 1-844-330-2020 phone numbers and balloons/banners for higher visibility.
The Census Bureau has also partnered with various municipalities, nonprofit organizations, local businesses and other Census partners to provide Census Response Assistance locations. People are encouraged to self-respond to the 2020 Census Questionnaire by going online or by phone or by completing their paper Questionnaire and returning it in the mail to help increase response rates.
As of July 15, 2020, the national Census 2020 response rate is 62.1% with 91.8 million households participating. Texas is ranked number 40 with a 57% response rate. The Rio Grande Valley counties’ response rates are slowly increasing and are as follows: Cameron County 45%, Willacy County 35.6%, Hidalgo County 46.6%, and Starr County 38.9%. We must continue to push the participation of all households to self-respond. To see how cities are responding, visit here https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates.html.  On August 11, the Census Bureau is hoping to start sending Census Enumerators door to door to those households that have not completed their 2020 Census Questionnaire to provide assistance.
When: Today, Thursday, July 16 through next week week Friday, July 24 – more to come
Where: Various locations in Rio Grande Valley
Thursday, July 16, 2020
Census Reminder Caravan Parade 4-6m at Rio Hondo, Texas
Census Partner – City of Rio Hondo
Municipal Building – 121 N. Arroyo, Rio Hondo, Texas 78583
Friday, July 17, 2020
Census Reminder Caravan Parade and Response Site at 9am-12noon
Census Partner – La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) & Koko Loko Owners
Koko Loko Drive Thru – 707 US 83 Business, Donna, Texas 78537
Census Response Site – Rancho Viejo, Texas 4-7pm
Census Partner – Town of Rancho Viejo
Rancho Viejo Farmers Market 3301 Carmen Ave. Rancho Viejo, Texas 78585
Wednesday, July 22, 2020
Census Reminder Caravan Parade 10am-12noon
Census Partner – City of Raymondville
142 S. 7th Street, Raymondville, Texas 78580
Census Response Site – South Padre Island, Texas 8am-3pm
Vitalant blood donation drive to support COVID-19
Census Partners – City of South Padre Island and Vitalant
4501 Padre Blvd. South Padre Island, Texas 78597
Census Response Site – Harlingen, Texas 8am -12noon
Census Partners – City of Harlingen and the RGV Food Bank
4515 E Harrison, Harlingen, Texas 78550
Friday, July 24, 2020
Census Reminder Caravan Parade and Response Assistance 6-8pm
Census Partners – RGV Disability Chamber, VAIL, 5×5 Brewing Company
801 Bryan Rd. Mission, Texas 78572
