Boyce One of Few Selected to Attend National Census Event in DC




Columbus – Ohio Treasurer Kevin L. Boyce has been chosen to preview the 2010 Census Integrated Communications Campaign in Washington, DC this Thursday. The aim of the campaign is to create awareness about the census, and motivate each household to fill out and return the census survey as soon as possible.

As Chair of the Ohio Complete Count Committee, Treasurer Boyce emphasizes that an effective ad campaign is crucial for the success of the 2010 Census.  “This campaign is one of the most comprehensive social marketing and communications campaigns conducted in the United States.  For it to be successful we must develop and implement marketing strategies targeted to every segment of the population -- if we don’t, the cost of conducting the census multiplies substantially,” said Boyce. 

The Census Bureau estimates that two-thirds of the overall 2010 Census costs will be spent enumerating people who do not reply by mail. It costs approximately $75 million to enumerate each additional percentage point of households that require follow-up by a census enumerator.

The event will be held Thursday, January 14, 2010 from 9:00 am to noon at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.

The media preview will be held from 9:00 am to 10:00 am, followed by breakout sessions geared toward targeted audiences. The event will also showcase displays of promotional materials, the Census in Schools program, and the Census website.

“I am eager to learn about what resources are available to help Ohio as we gear up for the 2010 Census,” said Boyce.

The Sesame Street characters, The Count and Rosita, part of the Census in Schools program will be making an appearance.  Award winning sports broadcaster and host of CBS’s NFL Today, James Brown, will serve as the event moderator.  The national and regional 2010 Census Road Tour vehicles, including the NASCAR race car driven by top-ranked driver Greg Biffle, will be displayed in the main courtyard of the Reagan Center.

The census advertising campaign will launch nationally on January 17, 2010 and will be one of the largest U.S. advertising campaigns in 2010.  For more information about the census, visit: www.census.ohio.gov

MEDIA CONTACT: Níel M. Jurist/614.466.5341