FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MONDAY, JUNE 24, 2002 Stephen Buckner CB02-CR.18 Public Information Office (301) 457-3691/457-3620 (fax) (301) 457-1037 (TDD) e-mail: stephen.l.buckner@census.gov **CENSUS BUREAU MEDIA ADVISORY** Key Data for Decision-Making to Be Available Every Year What: Demographic and socioeconomic data that are key to local and state decision-making could be available annually with a new initiative from the U.S. Census Bureau. Commerce Department Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Kathleen B. Cooper will host a town hall meeting to discuss with government, business and civic leaders the benefits of the new American Community Survey (ACS). The Census Bureau collects population characteristic data in the census once every 10 years. However, data on subjects such as transportation, education, income and housing become increasingly outdated with each passing year. The American Community Survey would replace the 60-year-old census long-form questionnaire and provide current data every year, allowing communities to make more informed decisions. To learn more about obtaining these data every year, the media and the public are encouraged to attend the town hall meeting. When: Friday, June 28, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. PDT Who: Kathleen B. Cooper, under secretary for economic affairs, Department of Commerce Chandler Felt, King County demographer Nancy M. Gordon, associate director for demographic programs, Census Bureau Ralph Lee, Seattle regional director, Census Bureau Where: Jackson Federal Building 915 Second Avenue, North Auditorium Seattle, Wash.