As a genealogist I have found the census to be invaluable to my research; but even more important has been its impact on the economic development of my community. And here is the reason why, taken directly from the Census Bureau’s Website:
“Census data are used to distribute Congressional seats to states, to make decisions about what community services to provide, and to distribute $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year.”
So, the census numbers can determine services provided by a community and can affect the amount of funding a community receives for improvements and programs. The census can also affect what regulations and laws the community is obligated to follow. Smaller communities usually have less restrictions and lighter regulations than large communities.
Because the census is so important to the country, the Census Bureau is trying to get the word out. If you want to help distribute informational materials at your own agency, you can find them at the Census Bureau Website.
The Public Works Group is doing its part by hosting a Census 2010 educational site on Public Works Island in Second Life. Visitors to the site can see photos from the Census Bureau, watch a movie about the census, access census-related job information, and find links to related Websites. Eventually, I will have Census T-shirts available too.
If you have a Second Life account, you can visit by clicking the following SLURL:
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Public%20Works/165/238/51
