Chickamauga, GA – The U.S. Census Bureau will bring its Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) program to Walker County over the next two weeks to encourage and assist people with responding to the 2020 Census.

The MQA program is part of the Census Bureau’s final push to encourage people to complete the 2020 Census before enumerators start going door to door in mid-August.

About 56% of households in Walker County have already responded to the 2020 Census online, by phone or by mail since invitations began arriving in mid-March. That number lags behind the state and national average.

Walker County receives roughly $2,300 each year in funding directly related to the census count for things like school programs, healthcare, public transportation and housing. An undercount in 2020 due to poor participation will adversely impact the community for the next decade.

The MQA program will visit the following locations from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:

• July 21 – Chickamauga Public Library (306 Cove Road, Chickamauga)
• July 22 – Rossville Public Library (504 McFarland Avenue, Rossville)
• July 23 – Chickamauga Public Library (306 Cove Road, Chickamauga)
• July 24 – Chickamauga Public Library (306 Cove Road, Chickamauga)
• July 29 – LaFayette Public Library (305 S Duke Street, LaFayette)
• July 31 – LaFayette Public Library (305 S Duke Street, LaFayette)
• August 1 – LaFayette Public Library (305 S Duke Street, LaFayette) until 2:00 p.m.

The MQA program will visit the following locations from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.:

• August 14 – Food City (319 Chickamauga Ave, Rossville)
• August 15 – Food City (800 Mission Ridge Road, Fairview)
• August 21 – Food City (800 Mission Ridge Road, Fairview)
• August 22 – Food City (319 Chickamauga Ave, Rossville)

Census representative will be on site to help people complete the 2020 Census on a tablet or on their own device, while practicing social distancing. All census workers have been trained in COVID-19 protocols and issued personal protective equipment to be worn during MQA support.

A number of activities have been held in Walker County in recent months to raise awareness about the importance of filling out the 2020 Census. Some of the outreach includes three community Census Train parades, several food distribution events, a PSA contest, along with banners, posters, bookmarks and other printed material.