LANSING — Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order #2019-15 on Tuesday, establishing a Complete Count Committee to assist in a comprehensive and accurate Census count in the state.

Census data is used for funding and representation accuracy, and making sure the count is as comprehensive as possible is paramount, Whitmer said in a press release.

“This committee is essential to making sure that Michigan has the resources and representation it needs,” Whitmer said.

“The 2020 Census count will dictate how much federal funding is allotted to Michigan for our schools, infrastructure, and how many Representatives we have in the United States House of Representatives. I am establishing a Census Committee so that Michigan will be prepared to organize, educate and count our residents with accuracy.”

The committee will be charged with providing public leadership, identifying barriers that may prevent a full count, create and implement an action plan to overcome recognized barriers and identifying opportunities to coordinate with other entities working towards achieving a complete count.

Governor Whitmer will serve as the chairperson of the committee and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist will serve as the vice-chairperson of the committee.

The Committee will consist of 63 members from organizations and communities across the state of Michigan, including the following:

• Michigan Senate
• Senator Jim Stamas
• Senator Adam Hollier
• Michigan House of Representatives
• Representative Julie Calley
• Representative Tyrone Carter
• Michigan Nonprofit Association
• Council of Michigan Foundations
• Michigan Association of United Ways
• Citizens’ Research Council of Michigan
• Michigan Muslim Community Council (MMCC)
• Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit and Vicinity
• Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit
• Church of God in Christ
• Michigan Catholic Conference
• AARP
• Kids Count Project (Michigan League for Public Policy)
• Michigan Works! Association
• Equality Michigan
• Disability Network
• Oceana Hispanic Center
• Urban Core Collective
• Volunteers of America-Michigan
• Michigan Municipal League
• Michigan Association of Counties
• Michigan Township Association
• Wayne County
• Oakland County
• Macomb County
• Marquette County
• City of Detroit
• City of Battle Creek
• City of Grand Rapids
• City of Lansing
• City of Flint
• Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Service (ACCESS)
• Hispanic/Latino Commission of Michigan
• Global Detroit
• Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission
• NAACP
• Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians
• Michigan Health and Hospital Association
• Health Care Association of Michigan
• Detroit Chamber of Commerce
• Lake Superior Community Partnership
• Michigan Chamber of Commerce
• Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM)
• Early Childhood Investment Corporation
• AFL-CIO
• Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council
• Michigan Education Association (MEA)
• DTE Energy
• Consumers Energy
• Michigan Cable Telecommunications Association
• AAA
• Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU)
• Michigan Community College Association
• Michigan Association of Broadcasters
• Michigan Press Association
• New Michigan Media

“It is critically important for all Michiganders to participate in the 2020 Census count and this committee will make sure our residents are informed across all communities throughout the state,” Whitmer said.

“Our children depend on the federal dollars that come from Census Data and it is our job to make sure we do our best to be counted.”