City of Erie offers $1,000 drawing as census deadline shortens to Sept. 30

Erie, Pa. - Aug. 6, 2020 - The City of Erie is promoting a $1,000 enter-to-win contest for residents who complete the census, as the federal government pulls back the response deadline to Sept. 30, a month earlier than planned.

"We just lost an entire month," said Renee Lamis, Chief of Staff to Mayor Joe Schember. "With less time to get our response rates up, we're offering City residents a chance to win $1,000 cash and weekly $100 gift cards just for taking the census."

City residents who complete the census are eligible to win a $1,000 cash grand prize as well as weekly $100 gift cards to local businesses and restaurants. Residents can enter the contest at CensusErie.com

"We need people to take the census now more than ever," says Mayor Joe Schember. "If we do not get our response numbers up, we will lose around $1 billion in federal funding over the next ten years."

It is estimated that the City of Erie holds about 100,000 residents. As of Aug. 4, the City of Erie's response rate was at 61.7%. In 2010, the City's response rate was about 76%.

In a statement on Aug. 3, U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham announced that census door-to-door operations and self response options will end on Sept. 30.

"We're shocked the federal government shortened the deadline instead of extending it as proposed," said Lamis. "Because of COVID-19, census workers haven't even been able to go door to door yet."

The deadline to enter the weekly drawings and $1,000 grand prize is now Sept. 30. The sooner City of Erie residents complete the census, the more chances they have to win. For full contest details and to find out how to enter, visit CensusErie.com.