Hall steps up census awareness campaign

GAINEVILLE - Students at Gainesville State College and Brenau University are teaming up month to get the word out about the 2010 Census.

Last Saturday, Brenau students who are also members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority canvassed targeted apartment complexes in Hall County, knocking on doors, talking to residents and leaving leaflets urging participation in the census.

Gainesville State students who are also active with the Goizueta Leadership Program at GSU will target apartment complexes with large numbers of Spanish speaking residents this Saturday.

County officials point out that the results of the census will affect each one of us every day for the next decade.

Distribution of federal funding for schools, roads, senior services, public safety and a host of other community services is determined by Census population data. About $13,000 will come to Hall County for every household that completes a Census questionnaire. If the population is underestimated because people are not counted, the county may not receive the funding it needs to provide necessary services for residents.