County urges residents to participate in federal 2010 Census for complete count, representation and federal dollars at stake

Vancouver, WA – Forms for United States Census 2010 will start arriving in mailboxes next week, and Clark County urges all households to fill out the

10-question form and return it as soon as possible. Mailing is free.

By completing the confidential form, residents can directly affect the quality of life in our community.

Conducted once every 10 years, the census collects data that affect the:

· Distribution of more than $400 billion per year in federal financing to state, local and tribal governments

· Number of seats Washington will have in the U.S. House of Representatives

· Redistricting of state and local governments for proportional representation

The federal money is distributed among 170 programs, including public works projects such as roads, bridges and tunnels and social service programs such as medical assistance and nutritional programs for women and children, including school lunches. The data also are used by local planners to determine such things as the locations of schools, senior centers and hospitals.

Clark County is helping refine census boundaries and collect addresses and new construction information to coordinate local and federal data for the most accurate population count.

The census form will take about 10 minutes to complete. Please return it by April 1. If it is not received by April 9, a second form will mailed. If that is not returned, a Census worker, identifiable by a badge and bag, will come knocking.

“That’s the expensive part,” said Michelle Danley, partnership specialist, U.S. Census Bureau. Returning questionnaires by mail saves $60 to $70 per form.

Clark County also is coordinating with Leadership Clark County and other groups to inform community members, especially those who may be difficult to count, about Census 2010.

To have someone from Leadership Clark County’s Complete Count Committee speak to a group, please contact Noah Blanton at (360) 241-8951 or noah.blanton@stewart.com. To have Michelle Danley speak, please call her at (360) 689-4611.

Questionnaire Assistance Centers will open on March 19 and 20 at several Clark County locations. Hours vary. Census forms in Chinese, Korean, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese as well as English will be available, as will telephone numbers for help for persons who speak one of more than 50 other languages.

The centers also will provide assistance to those who are blind or visually impaired. Instructions about how to complete the form will be available in large print and Braille, and a staff member can fill out the form. People who are deaf or hard of hearing can call the TDD number, 1-866-783-2010.

Persons who may not have received a census form in the mail can pick one up at an assistance center or a “Be Counted Site.”

Here are addresses of Questionnaire Assistance Centers in Clark County:

· Fire District 3, 17718 N.E. 159th St., Brush Prairie

· Fire District 6, 8800 N.E. Hazel Dell Ave., Vancouver

· Washougal Fire Department, 1400 A St., Washougal

· Korean Senior Citizens Association, 5305 E. 18th St., Vancouver

· St. John’s Catholic Church, 8701 N.E. 119th St., Vancouver

· Lord’s Church, 800 E. 29th St., Vancouver

· Vancouver Holy Mountain Church, 6415 E. Mill Plain Blvd., Vancouver

· Vancouver Korean Presbyterian Church, 5045 E. 18th St., Vancouver

· VA Medical Center, 1601 E. Fourth Plain Blvd., Vancouver

· Yacolt Town Hall, 105 E. Yacolt Road, Yacolt

Here are the addresses for Be Counted Sites:

· Vancouver Fire Department, 7110 N.E. 63rd St., Vancouver

· Paradise Quick Stop, 2814 N.E. 318th St., Ridgefield

· Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife, 2108 Grand Blvd., Vancouver

· Fire District 10, 39805 N.E. 216th Ave., Amboy

· East County Fire & Rescue, 600 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas

· U.S. Department of Agriculture, 11104 N.E. 149th St., Brush Prairie