February 10, 2020

San Antonio Businesses are Leading the Way on the 2020 Census in Bexar County

Brexar County creates a model census business engagement program.

A complete 2020 Census is critical for the health of localities, states, and the economy. That’s why the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and area businesses are leading the way toward getting an accurate count in Bexar County, Texas.

The immense significance of the census cannot be overstated. For example, in 2017, the federal government used census data to allocate at least $1.5 trillion in public funding to states for programs that help to grow the economy such as education, roads, public transportation, health care, workforce training and much more. Census information is also a key ingredient in much of the market and economic analyses that companies rely on.

Richard Perez, President & CEO of the San Antonio Chamber and a ReadyNation member, recognized the importance of the 2020 Census for Texas and his members back in 2018. With that understanding, he decided that the chamber would play a leading role in its community by encouraging its business members to contribute to the region’s census efforts.

Since then, Mr. Perez now co-chairs the Business and Labor Subcommittee of the San Antonio/Bexar County Complete Count Commission, and the San Antonio Chamber has developed a model census business engagement program. Elements of it include:

  • Launching a census website with a toolkit of resources for businesses and the greater community.
  • Hosting Train the Trainer events to help businesses become census advocates in partnership with the US Census Bureau, National Association for Latino Elected Officials Education Fund, the City of San Antonio, and Bexar County.
  • Developing a business challenge to encourage companies of any size to get engaged.
  • Placing an op-ed in the San Antonio News-Express making the business case for the census.

The Chamber is not alone, as many of their business members are also planning to help with the census. Valero Energy is offering an employee incentive program, and H-E-B will be promoting the count in all of their 321 grocery stores. SWBC, a nationwide financial services company, will be rolling out a robust census plan engaging both employees and the general public. Elements of their plan include:

  • Engaging employees with flyers strategically placed in offices, e-blast communications, computer screensavers, and banners on their employee website.
  • Engaging the general public with a social media campaign and providing employees with materials to promote the census on their social media accounts.

Business leaders in San Antonio know that the 2020 Census is important for their community and their bottom line. As a result, they are pitching in to help achieve a complete count.