3/15/2010 1:25:00 PM Businesses play key role in census
Ralph Rognstad: Census data useful for business attraction and retention.
Springfield, Statistically Speaking
The 2010 U.S. Census will be conducted beginning this month. Officials say businesses can use the information gathered by the census and other surveys by the U.S. Census Bureau to their advantage.
The following is information from the Census Bureau’s most recent American Community Survey of the city of Springfield in 2008.
Household Income and Benefits (in 2008 inflation-adjusted dollars) Total households: 69,307 Less than $10,000 6,945 10% $10,000 to $24,999 17,503 25.3% $25,000 to $49,999 22,778 32.9% $50,000 to $99,999 16,967 24.5% $100,000 to $199,999 3,928 5.7% $200,000 or more 1,186 1.7% Median household income: $34,646
Educational Attainment Population 25 years and over: 98,618 Less than ninth grade 3,658 3.7% Ninth to 12th grade, no diploma 10,123 10.3% High school graduate (includes equivalency) 29,475 29.9% Some college, no degree 24,722 25.1% Associate’s degree 5,425 5.5% Bachelor’s degree 16,972 17.2% Graduate or professional degree 8,243 8.4% Percent bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.6%
Housing Value Owner-occupied units: 36,133 Less than $50,000 3,260 9% $50,000 to $99,999 13,931 38.6% $100,000 to $149,999 10,434 28.9% $150,000 to $199,999 4,062 11.2% $200,000 to $299,999 2,696 7.5% $300,000 to $499,999 1,061 2.9% $500,000 to $999,999 558 1.5% $1,000,000 or more 131 0.4% Median house value: $103,500
Although the American Community Survey produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau’s Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns, as well as estimates of housing units for states and counties.
Ten questions, 10 minutes, $400 billion worth of reasons to answer.
That’s the selling point of the 2010 U.S. Census, set to hit mailboxes in mid-March. If individuals who live in Springfield and southwest Missouri don’t take the time to complete and return their census forms, businesses and communities could lose out on their share of federal funds.
Rich Gerdes, the Kansas City-based assistant regional census manager who oversees the Springfield Census Bureau office, said more than $400 billion in federal funds to be used for everything from new hospitals to highway projects will be distributed based on information gathered from the 2010 census.
“The community a lot of times can get funding based on whatever needs that it has,” Gerdes said.
Area business leaders say the consequences of completing the census form – or more importantly, not filling out the form – can play an important role in southwest Missouri’s next decade.
Ralph Rognstad, Springfield director of planning and development, said census information is used extensively by his office and local businesses.
“In some ways, it’s helpful to businesses from a marketing standpoint because they get data on how many people there are for sex, age, income … and they can use that for their marketing strategy,” Rognstad said.
Real estate agent Jeff Childs said the demographic data can give him an edge with clients.
“That’s really what the census gathers – income levels, population, the makeup of the population, education, who rents, who owns,” said Childs, an agent with Sperry Van Ness Rankin LLC. “That’s what we look at, especially on the retail perspective – the makeup of the population in certain areas and where it’s moving to and going.”
Rognstad said his office uses the information gathered from the census in its efforts to attract businesses to Springfield.
Digging up data Several search opportunities for businesses exist on the census Web site, said Laurie Patton Glasson, census senior partnership specialist. Two of the links are a 2010 census toolkit for business partners, www.2010.census.gov/partners/toolkits/toolkits-business.php, and general economic statistics at www.census.gov/econ.
Census information will be used, according to www.2010.census.gov, to affect the number of seats Missouri has in the U.S. House of Representatives, improve infrastructure and services, determine how federal funds can be used for hospitals, job-training centers, schools, senior centers, road and public works projects, and emergency services.
“Funds are transferred from the state and federal government that are based population,” Rognstad said. “We get a certain amount of money for roads if we have more population.”
For Childs, data collection once every 10 years seems too infrequent.
“We’d rather have that information updated as frequently as possible,” he said.
The decennial census is the largest the U.S. Census Bureau conducts and it determines the U.S. population, according to the census Web site.
Extra layers Several other censuses also are conducted by the bureau.
The Population Estimates Program provides population numbers between censuses. The Economic Census is a detailed profile of the U.S. economy, conducted every five years in years ending in 2 and 7. More than 100 annual economic surveys focus on various sectors, measuring everything from capital expenditures for food manufacturing companies to annual auto dealership sales.
The American Community Survey is a new nationwide survey designed to provide communities a look at how they are changing. It is a critical element in the bureau’s re-engineered decennial census program. It collects data on age, race, income, commute time to work, home value, veteran status and other variables.
“There is a lot of information that most people don’t know exists out there. It’s really amazing,” Gerdes said.
The census also brings job opportunities. Nationwide, approximately 1.3 million people will be hired to conduct the census.
“We’re still looking for people,” Gerdes said, adding that hiring will continue until July.
The Springfield census office is at 431 S. Jefferson Ave. in Wilhoit Plaza. Gerdes said interested candidates should call (866) 861-2010 to schedule testing for job opportunities.
