Special Census Counting Resumes In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — The United States Census Bureau resumed counting for the Special Census Thursday in Plainfield.

The Village of Plainfield is holding a mid-decade census to account for the estimated 10 percent increase in population since the 2020 Census. If Plainfield hits its population projections in the count, the village could see an additional $1 million or more a year in state and federal funding for essential services, Patch reported.

Funding received from the Special Census would occur yearly until the 2030 decennial census is certified, likely in 2032.

Counting was temporarily paused due to the record-long, 43-day government shutdown that began Oct. 1. It first began in July.

Now is the time for households that have not yet responded to the Census, either for the online portion or door-to-door operations, to participate, officials said. Census Bureau staff will visit homes to conduct brief surveys — information collected is used only for statistics and protected by the federal government — between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. If residents aren't home, the representatives will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond by phone.

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Households can respond by calling 815-439-7009. The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete.

"Everyone's participation is important to ensure an accurate and complete count because census statistics are used to inform how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local, and federal lawmakers annually," the village wrote in a news release.