First major 2010 Census operation to employ 650 in Vermont

The US Census Bureau is launching a nationwide operation to verify and update more than 145 million addresses as it prepares to conduct the 2010 Census. In Vermont, approximately 650 people will carry out the operation. It is the first publicly visible activity of the 2010 Census, and address-canvassing listers are expected to complete the canvassing by July 2.
Nationwide, more than 140,000 census workers will participate in the address- canvassing operation, a critically important first step in assuring that every housing unit receives a 2010 Census questionnaire in March 2010.
A complete and accurate address list is the cornerstone of a successful Census, said Kathleen Ludgate, regional director at the Boston Regional Census Center. Building on the achievements of the 2000 Census, we have been testing and preparing for the 2010 count all decade and we re ready to fulfill our Constitutional mandate to count everyone living in the United States.
It is important that every Vermonter is counted. This operation is the first step in making sure that happens, said Governor Douglas. I am pleased that so many Vermonters will be part of this effort, he added.
The Census listers have been trained to use new hand-held computers equipped with GPS to increase geographic accuracy. The ability to capture GPS coordinates for most of the nation s housing units will greatly improve the accuracy of next year s count.