The Alabama Census Bowl has been created where counties that have performed poorly in responding to the Census will earn money for their school systems by competing head-to-head at increasing their response rates.

The competition, similar in style to a March Madness type bracket, is a project from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) under the leadership of Director Kenneth Boswell.

Alabama’s 32 counties with the lowest Census response rates have been chosen for participation in the Census Bowl. Each county in the bracket will receive $1,500 to promote the Census among their constituents.

Individuals living in those counties need to only fill out their Census to help their county win; the form can be accessed here.

September 30 is the last day that American households can participate in the Census, and as such, it is the last day of the Census Bowl.

Each county selected for the Census bowl will face a county with a similar self-response rate on the Census, with the winner being decided based on which increased its rate the most in the week of the competition.

According to ADECA, the winners will receive money based on how far they proceed into the competition.

“Elite Eight Runner-Ups will receive $20,000 each, Final Four Runner-Ups will receive $30,000 each, Second Place will receive $45,000, and the overall Census Bowl Champion will receive a total of $65,000 to benefit its public-school systems,” the organization describes.

All prize money will be awarded in October.

“We are close to the final buzzer on Census 2020, and the Alabama Census Bowl is an excellent way to drive our state’s self-response rate up — all while benefiting public schools,” remarked Boswell in a statement.

“This is a unique way for counties to raise money for their schools, which can help with programs and projects benefiting deserving Alabama students,” he added.

Henry Thornton is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can contact him by email: henry@new-yhn.local or on Twitter @HenryThornton95