The Program
On Wednesday, March 3rd, Benita Johnson, Partnership Specialist with the US Census Bureau, will be joining us for a discussion on the 2010 Census. The Census is more than just a simple counting of every person within the United States of America. It plays an important role in the amount of federal funds that get distributed for hospitals, schools, job training centers, and many more social services for our communities. Our discussion will center on the impacts of an accurate census count on businesses, non-profit organizations, and our communities.

Why It's Important
The Census gathers a vast amount of demographic and economic information on neighborhoods and their residents. Not only can neighborhoods benefit from the funding dollars associated with an accurate Census count, but also from the statistics that are collected. The Census can help define and describe the needs of the neighborhood, identifying concentrations of poverty, homeownership, or elderly populations. Groups have used Census data to inform a number of community initiatives, such as locating a housing development, community center, or food pantry.

Census data can also be utilized as an economic tool to retain and attract new businesses to your neighborhood or help identify and expand business markets. The Census can be a great tool to advocate in the interest of your neighborhood.