To keep Tennessee s nine seats in congress, we must be careful to continue counting as many of our residents as possible. Federal dollars are also at stake. Federal taxpayer dollars for everything from roads and schools to hospitals are allocated based on population. If we do not accurately count our citizens, taxpayer dollars that should be destined for Tennessee may end up going somewhere else. The private sector also benefits from census data.
Businesses use the numbers to decide where to locate and to determine what products to manufacture.
Non profit agencies use the numbers to estimate volunteers and needs in a community. Individuals can be helped by census data through better 911 systems and with more efficient emergency plans for their communities. However, the Census Bureau is bound by law to protect the privacy of individuals. It cannot share the information with other government agencies or with the private sector. The law has been very effective.