Media Contact: Gwen Oldham at SF Chamber, 415-352-8839 or goldham@SFChamber.com

SAN FRANCISCO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CHALLENGES CALIFORNIA URBAN CHAMBERS TO HELP BOOST CENSUS PARTICIPATION

Daily participation rankings for San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego, San Jose and Sacramento will be posted to SFCHAMBER.com

San Francisco, Mar. 24, 2010 - The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce today challenged chambers of commerce in five California urban centers to help generate the highest 2010 Census participation rate. Joining in the nationwide effort to boost Census participation, the Chamber will post daily updates on the percentage of residents in each city to complete and mail back the 2010 Census form to www.sfchamber.com. The Chamber's challenge - issued to the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce and Sacramento Chamber of Commerce - will continue for five weeks and acknowledge the winning Chamber on Wednesday, April 28, 2010.

"A complete and accurate Census count is not only vital to California communities, it saves taxpayer dollars," said Steve Falk, President & CEO, San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. "With every one percent of Census participation by mail equating to $85 million in savings, now is the time for San Francisco residents to complete and return their Census forms." Census participation by mail significantly lowers the cost of the 2010 Census by reducing the number of census workers who must go door-to-door to collect census data as mandated by the U.S. Constitution.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, every census form returned by mail saves the Bureau $60-$70. If 100 percent of households mailed back their forms, taxpayers would save $1.5 billion.

Data collected by the 2010 Census will be used over the next decade to redistrict and apportion Congress, allocate more than $400 billion in federal funds, and help government, businesses and researches understand America's changing population. Census data also benefits business by providing insights into economic development opportunities, economic trends, the labor supply and many other measures important to business.

Census responses are confidential and required by law. For more information on the 2010 Census visit 2010census.gov. More information on the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is available at www.sfchamber.com.

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About the Chamber
Founded in 1850, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce is recognized as the pre-eminent business organization for advocacy, networking and economic growth. The Chamber delivers on its mission to attract, develop and retain business in San Francisco by representing companies and organizations that make San Francisco a preferred destination for businesses and visitors - a great place to live and work.