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Pike County has advanced to the Elite 8 in the statewide 2020 Census Bowl and is now guaranteed $20,000 for the public schools in Pike County.

A win in the Census Bowl Elite 8 would put Pike County in the Final Four and a  guaranteed $30,000 in prize money for the county’s public schools and the opportunity to win the 2020 Census Bowl. The second- place winner off the 2020 Census Bowl wins $45,000 and the Alabama Census Bowl Champion will win $65,000 in grant funding for its county schools.

Abby Peters, Pike County Extension Coordinator  and Census Bowl coordinator for Pike County, said Pike County advanced to the Final Four with a win over Macon County.

“Right now, Pike County is at a 2020 Census response rate of 50.7 percent which is still  below that state percentage rate of 62 percent,” Peters said. “Being in the Elite 8 is a great opportunity for residents who have not responded to the 2020 Census to help earn additional money for our public schools and also to help increase the statewide 2020 Census response rate.”

Peters said the 2020 Census Bowl is a statewide effort to increase the responses during the closing days for self-response to the 2020 Census on September 30.

“It only takes from five to six minutes to respond to the 2020 Census,” Peters said. “The federal dollars that we receive locally and statewide are based on the Census.”

Those dollars go for education and highways and other federal programs including Medicaid and a variety of senior services.

The Pike County Extension Office is available to assist those who have not self-responded to the 2020 Census.

Someone is available to assist with completing the 2020 Census at the Pike County Extension Office at 306 South Three Notch Street in Troy during hours from  8 a.m. until noon and from 12:45 until 4:15 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Filing electronically is the simplest way and that option is available at the Pike County Extension Office.

For more information, call the extension office at 334-566-0985.

Masks are available and social distancing is observed.