The U.S. Census is coming up this April and the cultural community in King County is being called to play a role in communicating the importance of the Census and encouraging participation in the nation’s once-a-decade population count.
The United States Census Bureau launched a nationwide road tour last month to motivate America’s growing and increasingly diverse population to complete and mail back the 10-question census forms when they arrive in mailboxes in mid-March.
Census data can impact arts funding and programs in our community. It determines the distribution of more than $400 billion in government funding annually for critical community services, including education and transportation. And it impacts your voice in Congress by reapportioning congressional seats to states.
With your help and connections, the Census Bureau will be able to communicate the importance of being counted in bringing valuable resources to our communities. By fulfilling their goal of 100% participation, the Census Bureau will be able to continue to produce accurate data, which will directly affect the quality of life in our community. Census data, including population figures, are often used to write proposals for grants that benefit our whole community, including cultural organizations.
To help ensure 2010 census data is accurate, organizations can display census information in their lobbies and/or include messages in performance programs. To request census materials, contact Brynn Hurlstone, local partnership assistant with the U.S. Census Bureau, (206) 948-5944. For more information on the U.S. Census, go here.
