LUCA Readiness Coordinator

LUCA Readiness Coordinator

Location: Arkansas (remote with in-state travel as needed)

Type: Contract & Part Time

Duration: June 2026 - December 2026 (potential for contract renewal dependent on available funding)

Hours: Approx. 28 hours/month

Compensation: $35 hour

Reports to: Program & Strategy Lead

About the Initiative

Arkansas Connects & Counts, a project of Arkansas Impact Philanthropy, is a statewide initiative working to ensure every Arkansan is counted in the U.S. 2030 Census—fairly and accurately. With a focus on historically undercounted and hard-to-count communities, our mission is to bring together local governments, community-based organizations, philanthropic partners, and trusted messengers to coordinate statewide Census planning, outreach, and engagement ahead of Census 2030.

A core focus of our work is early preparation for the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA)—the only opportunity for local governments to review and improve the Census Bureau’s address list. Accurate address data determines who gets counted and how billions in federal resources for roads, schools, healthcare, and broadband are distributed.

By investing early in LUCA readiness and treating the Census as an ongoing civic opportunity—not a one-time campaign—Arkansas Connects & Counts is working to build trust, expand digital inclusion, and help ensure communities across the state receive fair representation and equitable resources for the next decade and beyond.

About the Role

We are seeking a part-time LUCA Readiness Coordinator to support statewide preparation for the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) process during the 2026-2027 cycle, with a strong focus on risk identification, readiness assessment, and early technical planning with Arkansas local governments.

This role is designed for a highly organized, execution-oriented professional who can assess local capacity, identify risks to LUCA participation, and help inform communities on how to prepare early—particularly hard-to-count (HTC) jurisdictions and communities with limited GIS, planning, or addressing capacity.

The LUCA Readiness Coordinator will not complete LUCA submissions on behalf of communities. Instead, they will ensure communities are informed, organized, resourced, and ready to act.

Key Responsibilities

The LUCA Readiness Coordinator will:

• Develop a statewide readiness strategy and timeline, coordinating awareness and preparation activities, and tracking progress across municipalities and regions.
• Assess LUCA preparedness across priority counties and municipalities, with a focus on historically undercounted and hard-to-count communities and jurisdictions with limited GIS, planning, or addressing capacity.
• Conduct community outreach to increase understanding of LUCA requirements, timelines, and best practices.
• Develop and review plain-language LUCA education materials and readiness checklists, outlining preparation steps and common risks while ensuring alignment with the U.S. Census Bureau LUCA guidance.
• Provide early-stage technical guidance to select pilot locations, helping them identify LUCA challenges, assess address data readiness, and document workflows and barriers, while capturing lessons learned to inform statewide scale-up planning.
• Develop and maintain a LUCA readiness rubric that defines capacity tiers, risk indicators, and recommended levels of support, as well as identifying and regularly updating a list of high-risk jurisdictions likely to require targeted assistance during the 2027 LUCA cycle.
• Coordinate with the U.S. Census Bureau Geographic Programs Office to identify training options and inform timing and delivery considerations for local officials.

The ideal candidate is:

• A strong, action-oriented professional who is organized, proactive, and comfortable moving work forward independently
• Strong project coordination or program management experience
• Is ideally familiar with Census operations, LUCA, local government planning, or civic data processes
• Comfortable working at the intersection of data, local government, and planning
• Skilled at translating complex processes into clear, actionable steps
• Focused on equity and supporting under-resourced communities
• Comfortable using spreadsheets, trackers, and basic project management tools
• Has the ability to travel in-state as needed

Why This Role Matters

An accurate Census count impacts funding, representation, and resources for the next decade. Early LUCA preparation is one of the most effective ways to prevent undercounts—especially in communities that have been historically missed.

This role will play a critical part in ensuring Arkansas communities are prepared, supported, and empowered long before Census 2030 begins.

If interested, please share a resume and statement of interest to Evann Whitt at evann@propersouthernstrategies.com.