Why is a Census important?

Census data is used to inform decision makers on how the community is changing and what the needs are. Approximately $300 billion in federal funding is distributed to communities each year. Each person counted represents $826/year in Federal funding over 10 years.

Over 200 agencies make their funding allocations based on Census data. Some of the areas where Census data is used to allocate funds are:

- Title 1 grants to educational agencies
- Head start programs
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Public Transportation
- Road rehabilitation and construction
- Emergency food and shelter

Population totals from the decennial Census determine the number of seats each state has in the House of Representatives, the totals are also used to redraw the legislative districts.

City and County of Denver Complete Count Committee

The purpose of the formation of the Complete Count Committee (CCC) is to increase the Census questionnaire mail-back response rate through focused structured, neighbor-to-neighbor program outreach. By bringing together a cross-section of community members who will focus on the 2010 Census awareness, we will be able to utilize the local knowledge, expertise and influence of each Complete Count Committee member in order to design and implement a Census awareness campaign targeted to the community.

Specifically, the Complete Count Committee members will:
- Ensure an accurate count of every City and County of Denver resident
- Ensure an accurate count of presumably undercounted communities
- Achieve a 75% return rate of mailed surveys
- Make every Denver resident aware of the census
- Make every Denver resident aware of the confidentiality of the census

Neighborhood Partners Needed

The Complete Count Committee (CCC) is looking for 12 representatives from around the City and County of Denver to represent their neighborhood on the 2010 Census and Complete Count Neighborhood Sub-committee, the group will meet regularly to ensure neighborhoods are accurately encouraged to participate in the Census including awareness and participation efforts.

**The subcommittee will meet once a month in the evenings and the frequency of the meetings may increase as the Census nears.

Please submit the application by Friday, February 20th. The application can be found on the WWPNA web site at www.wwpna.org. Type in the words CCC Form into the Search box in the upper right hand corner of the home page or contact Charlie Busch for the application at president@wwpna.org or at 303-722-6220.