It’s in Our Hands

At the April 7, 2009 city commission meeting, city officials moved to enter into a partnership agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau to make certain that every resident living in the City of Apalachicola is counted during the 2010 Census.

However, neither your city government nor the U.S. Census Bureau can do this alone; we need the assistance of other partners, individuals, groups, and organizations from throughout the city to help build awareness about the census.

We need you to get involved by volunteering to serve on the Complete Count Committee (CCC). The purpose of the CCC is as stated to bring awareness concerning the census as well as to motivate residents in the community to respond.

During the last census, only 44 percent of Franklin County’s population including the City of Apalachicola responded to the count.

That was unfortunate because data collected from the census help determine the amount of Federal funding the city receives, the number of seats each state has in the U.S. House of Representatives and it’s used to determine where to build new roads, hospitals, and schools.

For the 2010 Census, we can turn that around by volunteering to join the Complete Count Committee (CCC), for more information telephone City Administrator Betty Taylor-Webb at (850) 653-9319 or via email at apalachadmin@fairpoint.net.

City Partners with U.S. Census Bureau

“IT’S IN OUR HANDS”

At the April 7, regular scheduled meeting of the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners, city officials moved to establish a partnership with the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau.

Evelin Ramirez, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau North Florida Team appeared before the commission to explain the importance of ensuring that the 2010 Census count every resident in the city.

Ms. Ramirez told the Board that each year more than $300 billion in federal funds are awarded to states and communities based on census data. She went on to say that, the census determines how many seats each state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives as well as the redistricting of state legislatures, county officials and voting districts.

Taken every 10 years, local elected officials also use census data to guide in community planning efforts such as where to build new roads, hospitals, and schools. Because of this, it is very important that everyone in the community is counted to ensure that each resident receives his/her fair share of important governmental services and resources.

In its partnership agreement, the city has agreed among other things to encourage its employees and constituents to complete and mail their questionnaires, and to provide a link to the 2010 Census website from the city’s website.

The U.S. Census Bureau is also interested in forming similar partnerships with community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, schools, media businesses and others, to guarantee a complete and accurate 2010 Census.

For more information on how your organization can form a partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau, contact Evelin Ramirez via calling (850) 521-9608 or emailing her at evelin.m.ramireez@census.gov.