The City of Brookings is partnering with the U.S. Census Bureau to raise awareness of the 2010 Census and to help achieve a complete and accurate count of the growing and changing U.S. population, it was announced this week by Brookings Mayor Tim Reed. The partnership is part of a larger effort by the Census Bureau to increase participation in the 2010 Census.

Census data directly affect how more than $400 billion per year in federal funding is distributed to state, local and tribal governments, and are used to distribute congressional seats to states so a , count is especially important to Brookings and Brookings County, Reed said. "As an organization that serves the informational needs of the community , we are dedicated to ensuring every resident citizen and noncitizen understands the importance of participating in the 2010 Census," Reed said.

"We are honored to partner with the Census Bureau on this critical initiative and are committed to help increase overall participation in 2010."

The City of Brookings will assist in delivering information to the general public and of the hard-to-count and undercounted groups such as college students , immigrants, and migrant workers.

In addition, Brookings city workers will help to educate the public about the safety of census data. Info confidential

By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with anyone, including other federal agencies and law enforcement entities. All Census Bureau employees take an oath of nondisclosure and are sworn for life to protect the confidentiality of the data. The penalty for unlawful disclosure is a fine of up to $250,000 or imprisonment of up to five years, or both.

"With the help of our 2010 Census partners such as the City of Brookings, the Census Bureau has a far greater chance of reaching every U.S. resident than if we were to attempt this monumental task alone," said Census Bureau Director Robert Groves in a press release.

"Through its unique role in the community and surrounding areas, the City of Brookings can help to frequently deliver the 2010 Census message to a large and diverse audience." Important data

Census data are used for legislative and congressional redistricting as well as to determine funding and locations for schools, housing, child-care centers, shopping centers, roads and more. These improvements can have a significant impact on the lives of everyone in the community.

One of the shortest census forms in history, the 2010 Census form asks 10 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. Census forms will be delivered or mailed to households in March 2010. Census Day is April 1, 2010, the official day of the population count.

Households should complete and mail back their responses upon receipt. Census workers will visit households that do not return their forms to take a count in person. It's Census Week!

Reed has declared March 15 through March 21 as Brookings Census Week, and he urged Brookings residents, including SDSU students, to participate completely in the United States 2010 Census to provide an accurate count of the population of Brookings in the 2010 decennial census.

For more information about the 2010 Census, visit 2010census .gov or contact Mike Struck, City of Brookings community development director, at 692-6629 .

From staff reports