The U.S. Census Bureau opened today a data processing center in Jeffersonville, Ind., which will process 58 million 2010 Census forms completed by households in 10 states. The new facility will be at the Census Bureau's National Processing Center (NPC) and will employ approximately 1,350 people.

Census officials were joined by Jeffersonville Mayor Thomas Galligan and other dignitaries at the opening of the data processing center.

"As part of America's largest domestic operation, the Jeffersonville data processing facility is at the center of our mission to count everyone once and in the right place," said Associate Director for Decennial Census Arnold Jackson. "Census data will determine the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the states and guide decisions on the distribution of more than $300 billion in federal dollars for roads, hospitals and other community services."

The Jeffersonville Data Processing Center is one of three sites nationwide where completed 2010 Census forms will be processed as they are mailed back by households starting next March. The NPC expects to process completed 2010 Census forms from West Virginia, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan - representing about 20 percent of the total number of forms expected to be received nationwide.

The remaining forms will be sent to data capture centers in Phoenix and Baltimore. The 2010 Census forms will be mailed to households in March, and the majority of the data processing will occur between March and July.

The NPC is hiring staff for 2010 Census operations, including clerks and statistical clerks/data transcribers. Job descriptions and applications are available now at <//www.usajobs.gov>.  The NPC employment level at peak census processing will be approximately 5,000 people.

Each worker will take a lifetime oath to keep census information confidential. By law, the Census Bureau cannot share respondents' answers with any other government or law enforcement agency. Any violation of that oath is punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and five years in prison.

The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution. Census data are used to distribute congressional seats to states, to distribute more than $300 billion in federal funds to local, state and tribal governments each year and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census questionnaire will be one of the shortest in history, consisting of 10 questions and taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict laws protect the confidentiality of respondents and the information they provide.

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