Dear Members,

Although our meeting attendance continues to show an increase from prior
years, those of you who missed March 8th’s meeting missed important
information on the upcoming Census that directly affects our area.
Speakers were Patti Bodkins of Drake Imaging,  Margie Pena of Neighborhood
Centers Inc and Yvonne Moore of the US Census Bureau.

 Significant points were:

1) It has been estimated that each uncounted individual costs our area
$12,000 in unreceived govenment funding.

2) There are only three requirements to be a person eligible to be counted
for the Census:
       a)   Be a human being
       b)   Be alive   (physical state of health is not pertinent)
       c)   Reside in the US on April 1, 2010

3)  Census forms will begin being received in late March and must be
returned before April 17.   After that point, a census worker will begin
to attempt to personally gather the information.

4)  The census form has 10 short questions and is easy to complete.

5)  Census workers are needed and being hired.

6)  The north Pasadena area has some census tracts designateded as a
Historically Underutilized Business Zone.   If the number of census tracts
are increased (which local research indicates that it should be), it could
become a favorable business location for companies wanting to participate
in or expand their exposure to government contracting.    There are also
non-government businesses (particularly large ones) with quotas for
HUBZone contracts.

7)  A large range of business types have products or services that
qualify.  (It was remarked that everything from janitorial and landscape
maintenance to hundreds of other businesses successfully gain contracts).
 Assuming that your company cannot provide service to the government
and/or major companies with government contracts may well be incorrect.

8)   Although work has been ongoing to provide education and publicity,
more would be welcome.  If there is any assistance that you could provide
or information that you need, please contact:   Yvonne Moore, Partnership
Specialist, Houston Area, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census at
s.yvonne.moore@census.gov
Posters in both English and Spanish were available at the meeting.  If you
would be willing to display one in your business, please let me know.   I
have them at my office.

Thanks,

Marilyn Wilkins
President, NPBA

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North Pasadena Business Association
832-201-6586