FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Mike Bergman | CB03-119 | ||
Public Information Office | |||
(301) 763-3030/457-3670 (fax) | |||
(301) 457-1037 (TDD) | |||
e-mail: <pio@census.gov> | |||
Business Owners, Self-Employed to Benefit from |
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The U. S. Census Bureau is asking 1 million business owners to set aside a few minutes to participate in an important survey that is part of the 2002 Economic Census. The information they provide will help shape federal, state and local governments’ business-assistance programs. Beginning Sept. 2, selected businesses will receive the 2002 Survey of Business Owners (SBO). Answers to the questions in the survey are, by federal law, confidential. The survey is taken every five years. “This survey is part of the 2002 Economic Census, which describes
the economy from the national to the local level,” said Louis Kincannon,
Census Bureau director. “It also helps shape the way we, as a country,
do business.” In addition to collecting the gender, race and ethnic background of
business owners, the survey features new questions about the age, education,
veteran status and primary business functions of the business owners.
Other new questions ask when the business was started, sources of equity
capital for start-up or acquisition and types of customers and employees.
Also new are questions about home-based businesses, family-owned businesses
and franchises. The Census Bureau will combine survey data with data from other economic census programs and administrative records to produce comprehensive data on receipts, employment, payroll, kind of business and location by race, ethnicity and gender of business owners. The first reports from the survey are scheduled to be released in mid-2005. - X -
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