More than $2.5 million in federal funds that should have come to The T&D Region never arrived, officials say, and they want to prevent that from happening again.

To do that, they're educating the public about the importance of the U.S. Census on the county level. The grassroots effort will be combined with an unprecedented nationwide marketing blitz set to begin in January.

The federal government uses Census figures, in part, to determine how much money it will provide for vocational education, roads, senior housing and other programs. The Census numbers also play a role in funding for the 1890 Program at South Carolina State University.

The Census Bureau estimates almost 1,300 people were undercounted in The T&D Region in 2000. Through 2008, local governments lost $2,000-$2,200 for each person who wasn't counted, according to the S.C. Budget and Control Board's Office of Research and Statistics.

The state may have missed out on up to $989 million in funding through 2008 alone.

BCB spokesman Mike Sponhour says the Census Bureau estimated 1.2 percent of the total state population, or 48,000 people, were missed ten years ago. He pointed out some experts believe even that is dramatically understated.

"Some people don't think the Census has an impact on them or their area but it does," Sponhour said. "We will be trying to make folks more aware of that."

He said, "Early estimates are that South Carolina is also in the running to get another seat in Congress. That would also give the state another vote in the Electoral College. Ensuring the Census count in 2010 is as accurate as possible is crucial."

On a state level, the Local Government Fund and proceeds from the local option sales tax are distributed using a formula based on population, as reported by the Census Bureau.

Address verification

In March 2010, the 10-question Census forms will be mailed to every resident in the U.S. in preparation for Census Day, April 1.

The Census verified addresses over the summer in preparation. S.C. Census 2010 spokesman Rania Jamison says local governments in The T&D Region helped update the mailing addresses.

"This year's efforts were so unique because all counties have now completed the 911 address conversion process, which should make our address verification more accurate," Jamison said. "Using global positioning systems also allowed for ... addresses to be captured and verified."

The Lower Savannah Council of Governments provided technical assistance to communities without the resources to collect addresses.

Complete Count committees

Local coordination of all Census 2010 activities begins with the partnership specialist in each county. In Calhoun and Orangeburg counties, that person is Philip LaRoche.

"We establish partnerships with local governments, community-based organizations and businesses," LaRoche said. "The Census Bureau can't do a complete job by itself. We have to get them to help us spread the word … that the Census is safe, important and easy."

The major component of local Census activities involves the creation of countywide Complete Count committees. Each committee is responsible for planning and implementation of public awareness strategies.

"These members are using their own creativity to do this. The committees should have diversity to reach hopefully everyone in the county," LaRoche said. "In January 2010 they will be asked to ... proceed with the activities they've generated."

For more information or to volunteer with local Complete Count committees, call the Orangeburg County information line at 803-533-1000; Sharon Hammond at 803-245-4313 or Ruthie Brown at 803-245-5191 in Bamberg County and Elaine Golden at 803-874-2679 in Calhoun County.

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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