valentinosdcpulse

2000 represented the 1^st ever paid for advertising campaign for the Census. With a budget exceeding $10.8 Million to spread the message, the average American saw or heard the message over 50 times. The results showed an increase in mail response participation from 65-67%. This reversed a three-decade-long decline in mail response.

The census is an important tool to gain access to federal funds for hospitals, job training centers, schools, senior centers, bridges, tunnels, and other-public works projects, and emergency services. Cities use the data for program planning for youth, the elderly, and other groups.  The census does to request social security numbers or provide name and addresses to any other federal agency, so everyone is encouraged to fill out the short form. Underreporting hurts DC and other cities.

Since every locality has the same concerns, the 2010 US Census campaign is now bigger than ever.  In total, more than 400 ads in 28 languages have been created for the 2010 Census. Placements span TV, radio, print, out-of-home, digital, cinema, social media, events, and sponsorships.

In January, 2010 the national road tour kicked off in New York City. It will be stopping and exhibiting at more than 800 events nationwide. For more information or to follow the Road Tour visit 2010census.gov and follow us on Twitter (@2010Portrait), Facebook, MySpace, Flickr and YouTube

By February, 2010, the U.S. Census Bureau started building awareness about the importance and benefits of mailing back the 2010 Census form with a $5.1 million advertising package during the 2010 Winter Olympics when 132 spots aired on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC and USA.

In order to make sure that you don't miss the message, the US Census Bureau has also enlisted the help of trusted voices to call people to action. Even Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer got in n the actin: "Children Count Too". In the news and on the radio, DC Mayor Fenty urges DC residents to participate as part of the DC  Counts initiative and President Obama has a 30-second video day urging every American household to complete and return the 10-question survey. This year's message is "Because we can't move forward until you mail it back." Vote Latino is offering 25 free downloadable songs for signing the pledge.

In Washington DC, if you take the Metro, you can't miss the 20 foot tall census form displayed outside Union Station. Haven't seen it?  View the form here. It even comes with a prepaid envelope making it even easier to mail it back as soon as possible.

Still don't get it?  Reminders are everywhere!  If you are too busy watching NASCAR to fill out your form, you were reminded on March 21 at Bristol and will be reminded again on March 28^th at Martinsville. Watch for car #16, driven by Greg Biffle as Roush Fenway Racing, proud sponsor,helps spread the word.

"It's Easy". Asking just 10 questions and taking only about 10 minutes to complete, the 2010 Census form is one of the shortest in U.S. history. How hard can it be? If you still need help, you can call the official Telephone Questionnaire Assistance Center or visit the Questionnaire Assistance Center and Be Counted sites to help answer your questions. 

The Census is only taken every 10 years, yet every day decisions in DC and throughout the nation are based on the Census data to determine which communities, as well as schools, hospitals, and roads need federal funding. What's at stake is nearly $2.5 billion in federal funds that could potentially go to the District - that's why it's so important we all do our part. Here's a quick recap of how the information collected is used:

The federal government uses census numbers to allocate over $100 billion in federal funds annually for community programs and services, such as education programs, housing and community development, health-care services for the elderly, job training and many more.

Local and tribal governments use census information for planning and allocating funds for new school construction, libraries and other public buildings, highway safety, and public transportation systems, new roads and bridges, location of police and fire departments and many other projects.

Community organizations use census information to develop social service programs, community action projects, senior lunch programs and child-care centers.

Businesses use the numbers to decide where to locate factories, shopping centers, movie theaters, banks and offices -- activities that often lead to new jobs.

The U.S. Congress uses the census totals to determine how many seats your state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Adrian M. Fenty, Mayor of DC, clearly: states the importance  to DC of returning the form

"The 2010 Census will touch so many aspects of the public over the next decade with the largest impacts on medical assistance and insurance, transportation funding, employment assistance, Section 8 housing, and education funding. It is critically important for the District of Columbia to have as complete and accurate a count as possible so that we can secure our share of the approximately $400 Billion in federal funding in order to provide the vital public services that our residents so greatly deserve." - (October 29, 2009).

Census questionnaires are sent to every address in the nation. The form this year has been substantially streamlined. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Forms are mailed in March. When you receive your form, simply answer the 10 short questions and mail the form back - a postage-paid envelope in provided. If you don't mail the form back, you may receive a visit from a census taker, who asks questions from the form. You can preview the form online also. Especially in this economy, it is even more important to participate to ensure our state has an accurate count of our population.

Rachel Valentino is a visible and highly respected real estate professional in the Washington DC area. She urges all area residents to participate by filling out and mailing back the census form in a timely manner. You can visit her website, The Atlantic Coast Connection to see the latest real estate offerings in the DC area.