Population growth is robust as numbers of students in Harris County school districts exceed 800,000.  As one of the fastest growing counties in the United States, we depend on the census.  The Census determines the federal funding dollars that flow into our state, county and our children’s schools.

Virtually all formulas for federal funding are calculated using Census numbers.  Harris County schools depend on the Census.  Census data will determine how approximately $26 billion in annual federal education funding is distributed nationally in the next 10 years.

“For Harris County schools to be fully represented in education funding decisions, we must ensure that every child in our county is counted,” said Harris County Department of Education County School Superintendent Dr. John E. Sawyer.  “It is critical for each family to answer those 10 short questions and mail back the postage-paid envelope.  Harris County students deserve their fair share of the education dollars.”

Being counted in the Census makes sense.  Mail your form today for a stronger Harris County tomorrow.

(Harris County Department of Education supports school districts throughout greater Harris County with vital services and provides quality education programs to the general public. Visit www.hcde-texas.org to see how we might serve you.)

Since the 2000 Census took place, at least four major hurricanes have surged the Gulf Coast, causing widespread damage and costing billions of dollars in rebuilding efforts.  If you’re still feeling the effects of these storms, did you know that filling out your Census questionnaire will help your community prepare for future disasters?

The data collected by the Census assists communities in evacuation planning and preparedness efforts.  In Harris County it is not a matter of if a disaster will strike but when it will strike.

With the impact Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Ike have already had on Harris County, our communities cannot afford to be ill prepared for the future.  The next ten years of recovery efforts are counting on this year’s Census findings; with a complete and accurate count, we can work together to make sure that in the event of a hurricane or other natural disaster, funding for rebuilding efforts will be secure.

As a result of these hurricanes, Harris County communities have also experienced strong shifts in their populations.  These changes need to be reflected in 2010 Census findings, which will help to allocate critical funding to communities that have permanently welcomed displaced residents in recent years.

As we continue to adjust to life after these hurricanes, it’s important for residents who have lost their homes and are currently living with family members or friends to participate in the Census.  Harris County is still counting on you! If you’ve been displaced by recent disasters, you should be included on the Census questionnaire addressed to the household in which you live most of the time.

While hurricane season will always be a major concern for Harris County, residents can be sure that by filling out and mailing back their Census questionnaires today, they’re helping their communities prepare for critical planning and recovery efforts for the next decade.

Stand up and be counted—there truly is Power in Numbers!

Visit www.PowerinNumbersHarrisCounty.com for more information about the Harris County’s 2010 Census campaign and how you can get involved.

To stay updated on the latest Harris County Census news, become a fan of our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCensus2010) and follow us on Twitter (www.twitter.com/HCCensus2010).  To learn more about the Harris County Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, visit. www.hcoem.org.

In recent months, we have heard many people address the importance of filling out Census forms. It’s true that an accurate count means more federal funding for things like transportation, infrastructure and social services, as well as more accurate political representation. We have also heard that the Census is anonymous and takes just ten minutes to complete, but one aspect of the Census I haven’t heard much about is how important an accurate count is for businesses large and small.

As president of the Asian Chamber of Commerce, I interact with area businesses every day. I see first-hand how local businesses throughout the Harris County community can benefit if everyone – employees and customers alike, fill out their Census forms. For instance:

• The Census helps us find new markets. In the spring of 2011 the results of the Census will be made available to everyone. Businesses can use Census data to better understand where our customers are and as a result, where our businesses might thrive.

• The Census helps us better understand what our customers want and need. We know the face of America is changing; Census data will provide a roadmap to help us determine where to build homes, start new businesses and target specific types of products.

• The Census gives us a glimpse into the next 10 years. Besides showing what’s happened over the past decade, the Census will forecast how consumers may change over the next ten years.

• The Federal Governments sends more then $300 billion in funds based on the Census. If our community isn’t counted we don’t get our fair share.

Over the past decade Harris County has been one of the nation’s leaders in growth. For us to continue on this path, it is vital that everyone fill out and mail back their 2010 Census forms. We need to count every person living in our homes on April 1, 2010. Harris County’s economic health depends on it!

If you could improve our entire community by answering 10 short questions in less than 10 minutes, would you do it? By completing and mailing back your Census form this month, you can help.

The Census is a constitutionally mandated count of all U.S. residents, citizens and non-citizens alike, and its findings are used to allocate federal and state funds, redraw legislative districts and determine representation in Congress.

As residents of Harris County, we need to receive the federal funding we deserve so that our communities are able to:

• Plan for public transportation
• Build roads and improve infrastructure
• Plan and seek funding in the event of future natural disasters
• Forecast future housing needs
• Draw school district boundaries, and more.

Additionally, United Way of Greater Houston relies on Census data to understand the demographics of certain communities and neighborhoods so we can make well informed investment decisions. Private charitable funding cannot address the multitude of needs in our community, but those dollars can create a dramatic impact when leveraged with federal and state funds.

A complete and accurate Census count is so important to the United Way that we have made financial investments in more than 20 local nonprofit organizations to help them host awareness events, conduct door-to-door outreach and spread the word to hard-to-reach populations. It is vital for everyone to understand that the 2010 Census is safe, easy and 100 percent confidential.

Harris County is currently the third most populous county in the nation and continues to grow rapidly. It is estimated the county lost more than $230 million in federal funds in the last decade because of undercounting in 2000. With so much money at stake for critical resources, our communities cannot afford an incomplete Census count.

Visit www.PowerinNumbersHarrisCounty.com for more information about the Harris County’s 2010 Census campaign and how you can get involved.

You can also follow the Harris County Census on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@hccensus2010 or become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCensus2010 to receive updates on Harris County’s

U.S. Census questionnaires will begin arriving in Harris County mailboxes in just two weeks—are you ready? With fraud running rampant as we enter Census 2010 Month, many of our residents have expressed concern about protecting their personal information from con artists and potential scams. I’m dedicated to making sure you know exactly what to expect as the 2010 Census gets fully under way.

After all, the only way for Harris County to receive the funding we deserve is to achieve an accurate Census count, and residents should feel completely comfortable submitting their questionnaires.

How can you protect your personal information from fraud? Remember to keep in mind the following:

• Census forms will be mailed out on March 16^th and should be mailed back by April 15^th. You should not expect to have a Census worker knock on your door unless you do not complete and return your questionnaire by the deadline.
• You will receive a letter from the Census Bureau director notifying you that your household will soon receive a form in the mail, a phone call from the Census Bureau, or a visit from a Census Bureau representative.
• The Census Bureau will never ask for your Social Security number or other financial information, including bank account numbers.
• The Census Bureau will never contact you via email, and questionnaires may not be completed online.
• Census employees will carry an official identification badge with an expiration date and a Department of Commerce watermark.
• Census takers are trained to conduct business outside the door, so be cautious of people who insist on entering your household.

You can be 100 percent confident that information you submit will be protected by the U.S. Census Bureau.  The information compiled by the Census is used to produce statistics, without any identifying characteristics, and responses will not be shared with anyone. All Census Bureau employees also take the oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data they collect.

Be sure to visit www.PowerinNumbersHarrisCounty.com for more information about the 2010 Census and how you can get involved.

You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@hccensus2010 or become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCensus2010 to receive updates on Harris County’s 2010 Census campaign.

Welcome to March—or as we like to call it here in Harris County, Census 2010 Month! I am very enthusiastic about the Census and all it has the power to do for our residents and the communities in which they live. That is why Harris County Commissioners Court has deemed this month Census 2010 Month.

The 2010 Census is a count of the American population taken every 10 years. The 10-question Census form will arrive in your mailbox in March and will take only 10 minutes to fill out.  Submit your questionnaire, and Harris County garners 10 times the return!

Why is this month such a big one on the Census timeline?  Census questionnaires will be mailed to every household on March 16^th, and the clock will begin ticking for each and every recipient to fill it out and mail it in.  Census results will have a tremendous impact on Harris County.  In fact, an accurate count will:

• Increase funds for transportation and infrastructure;
• Accurately plan for funding in the event of future disasters;
• Boost funds for hundreds of critical programs serving youth, seniors and others in need;
• Help design public safety strategies for law enforcement officials; and
• Have the potential to add another member of Congress and more representation in Austin.

And these are just a few of the reasons Harris County will benefit!

10 questions, 10 minutes – that’s it!  It’s safe and it’s easy.  Census answers cannot be used against you in any way.

So when your Census form arrives in just a few weeks, help Harris County out by submitting your questionnaire to the U.S. Census Bureau.  Participating in the 2010 Census is the easiest way you can do something good for your community.  Remember, there is Power in Numbers!

Don’t forget to visit www.PowerinNumbersHarrisCounty.com for more information about the 2010 Census and how you can get involved.

You can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/@hccensus2010 or become our fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HarrisCountyCensus2010 to receive updates on Harris County’s 2010 Census campaign.