ARA partners with the U.S. Census Bureau

With the 2010 Census less than a year away, preparations for the nationwide effort to count all U.S. residents are already underway across the country. Census data affects critical decisions from congressional representation to the allocation of more than $300 billion annually in federal funds.

The American Rental Association (ARA), representing the $35.3 billion equipment rental industry, has partnered with the U.S. Census Bureau to help spread the word to businesses represented about the significance of the study. “Census data is used to guide local decision-makers on where to build new roads, hospitals, schools and more. This is a direct correlation to the equipment rental industry, as many of these projects require the use of rental equipment,” said Christine Wehrman, executive vice president and CEO of ARA. “By signing on as a partner, we are sending a strong message about the importance of the census and the benefits of being counted.”

Partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit organizations and government entities are vital to raising awareness of, and increasing participation in, the census next year. More than 300 national partners have signed on to date.

The 2010 Census will have one of the shortest census questionnaires in history, and should take approximately ten minutes to complete. Questions will cover name, gender, age, race, ethnicity and home ownership; participation is required by law, and all answers remain strictly confidential. The questionnaires should arrive in March 2010, and census workers will be visiting households that do not return required information.

For more information from the ARA, visit www.ARArental.org.