A day in the life of your census data

6:15 a.m.
Pleasant ringing sound! Whoa, time to get up. Jane G., rolls out of bed, turns on the lights, and hops in the shower.

Public water, electric, and sewer are available because data from the census was used in planning her community and ensuring adequate infrastructure was there to support it.

7:11 a.m.

Jane’s kids get on the bus to head to school.

Census data is used to determine where to build new schools, and school programs such as the free and reduced lunch program are funded based on data collected by the census.
 

7:15 a.m.

Jane G., boards Blacksburg Transit to get to work.

Federal, State and local funding for BT buses is based on population counts from the census.

8 a.m.

Jane promptly arrives at her job as a faculty member at Virginia Tech.

Academic work, research, tuition grant, and loan programs are affected by census data.
 

Noon

Jane heads to lunch.

Census data directly affect how funding is allocated for neighborhood and downtown improvements through programs such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Commercial Facade Program.
 

5 p.m.

Jane catches BT home, gets in her car, and meets her kids at the library where they are doing research for school.

Funding for roads and libraries is determined by census data.
 

5:30 p.m.

Jane takes one kid to the Community Center for basketball practice. Meanwhile Jane and her other kid take a swim at the Aquatic Center.

Funding for community programs offered by Parks and Recreation Departments is also determined by census data.
 

8 p.m.

Jane and her spouse, a volunteer with the Fire Department chill on the couch and watch the Town Council meeting on cable access television.

Data from the census determines how much money is allocated for government services and public safety.