One main objective of the Census is to accurately count residents of our region, so that federal funding goes to the right places. To encourage participation in the 2020 Census, Innovia Foundation partnered with Washington Nonprofits and the Washington State Office of Financial Management to provide grant funding for organizations in Eastern Washington. Over $254,000 was distributed in 10 Eastern Washington counties for education and outreach activities aimed at historically hard-to-count populations.
Friends of KSPS received a $20,000 Census grant to help them widely promote the 2020 Census. With broadcasts available free on their main channel, KSPS serves about 2,000,000 households, including around 600,000 in Eastern Washington. They aired promotional spots on KSPS stations and social media channels, featuring trusted community members sharing the message that everyone counts. KSPS was also able to live stream a Spokane County Complete Count Committee public forum.
KSPS was one of 22 other grantees helping spread the word about the Census. With the support of Innovia Foundation and its partners, organizations like KSPS are helping ensure that every person across the Inland Northwest is counted in the 2020 Census, recording the needs of our communities and ensuring every person has the opportunity to thrive.
