This month, the Florida Chamber Foundation (FCF), a statewide, business-led, non-partisan research organization, released a new county-by-county study examining the effects of the 2020 census undercount.
FCF says 750,000 Florida residents were not counted in the 2020 Census. The undercount resulted in an estimated $11.4 billion in federal funding that could have been used to support schools, healthcare, roads, and community programs- that’s approximately $1 billion per year that went to other states that Floridians deserve.
The study highlights the widespread impact of the undercount on local communities and federal funding streams that support essential services.
“At the Florida Chamber Foundation, we know accurate counting is not just numbers on a page,” said Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and Foundation. “It is the foundation for fairness, investment, and opportunity in communities across Florida. We must get the 2030 Census right to make certain every resident and community benefits by receiving its fair share of funding.”
Florida is projected to add more than 2.5 million residents by 2030, welcome 40 million annual visitors, and see roughly 2.1 million new drivers on its roadways.
“Getting the 2030 Census right is important to guarantee communities have the resources they need for long-term growth and prosperity,” said Dr. Keith Richard, Vice President of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation. “The 2020 Census undercount shows what is at stake. Every Floridian counted means more funding for schools, infrastructure, healthcare, and economic development in every county.”
