U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, U.S. Representative James Langevin, Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian, and Rhode Island State Complete Count Committee Chair Peter Wells joined U. S. Census Bureau Deputy Regional Director Bruce Kaminski and local government officials and community leaders to launch the next phase of census activities in Bristol, Kent, Newport, and Washington Counties as well as parts of Providence County. Speakers encouraged every person living in the area to promote, support, and participate in the 2010 Census.
Senator Reed said, This census is vital to the future of Rhode Island and every state in the country because from this data approximately 3 trillion dollars in federal allocations [over ten years] are distributed across the country.
Senator Whitehouse said, Theres a lot that rides on getting out there and getting this done. It would be a mistake for anybody . . . to refuse to participate. It hurts the state. It hurts the communities. It hurts the individuals themselves, ultimately, if we dont get everybody properly counted.
Mayor Scott Avedisian thanked the staff of the local census office for doing the outreach work that needs to be done getting people to understand how vitally important it is that we count everyone.
The keynote address was delivered by Congressman Langevin who said, Obviously this comes at an important time . . . this means jobs right now for Rhode Islanders who are out of work and can now put their talents to work on an endeavor that will be important, not just right now, but until the next decade and the next census occurs.
Managed by Judith Babcock, the new office will handle the 2010 Census preparations and is currently hiring temporary workers to conduct Census activities throughout the area. The Warwick Local Census Office is located at 475 Kilvert St. Bldg. B, Ste 135, Warwick, RI 02886.
For more information, contact Media Partnership Specialist Ben Irwin at the Boston Regional Census Center at (617) 223-3610 or boston.pdsp@census.gov.