ESTILL - The 2010 Census Regional Tour made a stop at the Bull Durham Center in Estill on Friday to promote awareness of the importance of the 2010 Census, and to show participants just how easy it is to complete the form.
"It is imperative that we all participate in the 2010 census," said Estill Mayor Anderson Taylor, who was one of several local officials who enjoyed the event.
South Carolina ranks 49th out of the 50 states for census completion, just above Alaska. As a result, South Carolina loses out on much of the federal funds that the government gives out.
"For the next 10 years the United States will have a federal budget balance of about $400 billion," said Paul Shepherd, Partnership Specialist for the Census in Barnwell, Bamberg, Jasper, Hampton, and Beaufort counties.
"How much the state of South Carolina receives, and specifically the Lowcountry, is up to the townspeople," Shepherd added. "The money South Carolina receives is important for education."
Taylor added that "This money could be also used to fund buildings, schools, and roads that Hampton County independently does not have the funds for."
The regional road van, which is currently touring the Southeastern United States, uses state of the art equipment and provides a hands-on experience to stress the fact that filling out the Census forms are easy to do and any information provided is secure. The new census form, which will be mailed out or hand-delivered to every home in March, consists of ten questions and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete.
Census workers will be on hand in our communities to provide assistance if needed.
For more information, call Jeff Derwort at 803-649-7981, or visit the Web site at 2010census.gov.