Every ten years, the U.S. Constitution mandates a count or census of all residents, collecting basic information about households, including number of people, relationship to each other, gender, age, ethnicity, and homeownership. The goal is to count everyone once, only once, and in the right place.
However, the census is more than a number count. Its results will impact Philadelphia for the next ten years:
- Census data is used to determine representation in Congress.
- Philadelphia receives more than $3 billion in federal funds every year, which supports essential city and social service programs.
- The data is also used for research and to analyze and predict trends.
We cannot afford an undercount. An undercount means federal programs and representation are allocated for a smaller number of people than live in our city.
A complete and accurate census count benefits everyone. Here are five reasons why it matters for the business community:
- Businesses rely on census data to make critical decisions. For example, this data is used to identify new locations or to assess potential employees, customers, and markets. This has a direct influence on where businesses decide to open, impacting the local economy and job creation.
- Census data allows businesses to create efficient marketing, merchandising, and sales strategies.
- Business owners also use the information to determine how best to serve their customers. Those local community statistics are available thanks to the census.
- Business owners use census data to make competitive hiring and pay decisions.
- Census data showcases the growth potential of the American market.
Put your business on the fast-track to grow
Join Philly Counts, Lancaster Avenue 21st Century Business Association and the Office of Immigrant Affairs on Tuesday, March 24, 2020, for a workshop that will give you the tools to grow your business using census data.
