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<br />St. Joseph County, IN City of South Bend, IN City of Mishawaka, IN
<br />September 24, 2008
<br />10 a.m.
<br />Task force works for complete count in 2010 Census
<br />Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-
<br />1564, Chris Dressel, South Bend Community Planner, 235-9660, Larry Magliozzi, Assistant
<br />Director, Area Plan Commission, 235-9571, or Andrew West, City ofMishawaka, 258-1668
<br />Elected officials, community representatives and members of the media gathered Wednesday to kick off
<br />planning efforts to get full and accurate representation of St. Joseph County's population in the 2010
<br />U. S. Census.
<br />Led by South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke, Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea and the St. Joseph County Com-
<br />missionerBob Kovach, the Complete Count Committee is working across political boundaries and pub-
<br />lic and private sectors, in coordination with the U. S. Census Bureau, to ensure "the best, most accurate
<br />possible count through a comprehensive education and awareness program targeting all businesses and
<br />residents."
<br />Census questionnaires won't go out for another 18 months. But planning for local strategies and publicity
<br />already is under way to see that as many households as possible return the completed questionnaire on
<br />Census Day, April 1, 2010.
<br />Data gathered in the 2010 Census is used by the federal and state government to determine funding levels
<br />for a variety of programs. The distribution of an estimated $300 billion annually is impacted by Census
<br />results. Business investment decisions often are based on census data, while census data is used in fund-
<br />ing applications by local government as well as the private, nonprofit sector. Census figures also impact
<br />Congressional representation.
<br />"The Census determines how many seats each state will have in the U. S. House of Representatives as
<br />well as the boundaries of legislative districts," said Mishawaka Mayor Jeff Rea. "Census information
<br />helps businesses make informed operational and marking decisions. It helps community leaders deter-
<br />mine locations for new schools, roads, hospitals, childcare centers and much more."
<br />"A growing number of cities nationwide are challenging Census estimates, so that heightens the impor-
<br />tance of getting the best, most accurate count possible," said South Bend Mayor Steve Luecke. "We've
<br />had 12 consecutive years of adding more than 100 new housing units in the city. We know that Census
<br />estimates have historically under-represented South Bend's population, so it's important for all parts of
<br />our community to work diligently to ensure that the 2010 count is complete."
<br />According to the 2000 Census, local populations are:
<br />~ 265,559 in St. Joseph County
<br />~ 107,759 in South Bend
<br />~ 46,557 in Mishawaka
<br />"It's In Our Hands!"
<br />~Unrted9~
<br />St. Joseph County -Area Plan Commission, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601 (574) 235-9571
<br />~~ City of South Bend -Division of Community Development, 224 W. Jefferson Blvd., South Bend, IN 46601 (574) 235-5879
<br />City of Mishawaka -Department of Planning and Community Development , 600 E. Third Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544 (574) 258-1668
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