1. Kern Grant Summit - January 30, 2015
U.S. Census Bureau Census Data for Grant Writing
Luz M Castillo
Data Dissemination Specialist
Los Angeles Regional Office
U.S. Census Bureau
Kern Grant Summit - January 30, 2015

2. Census Data a Reliable Source
Population, Housing and Economic Statistics
Data for small areas (City, Zip Code, Census Tract) help
Identify pockets of need in communities
Target limited resources
Inform decision making process
Easy to compare to other areas, geographies
Can tract population changes over time

3. Demographic Data Helps Define Your Customers/Describe Your Target Population
Is the population growing or declining?
Is this a youthful or aging population?
Are there many single young people?
What are the income levels?
What are the levels of education?
What languages do people speak?
What is the racial/ethnic make-up of the area?

4. Components of a Grant Proposal
Activity Plan and Timeline
Budget Section
References
Needs Statement
Goals and Objectives
Project Description
Supportive Data

5. The Needs Statement Powerful Component
Describes the population that will benefit or the target population to be served
Defines the community problem to be addressed
Presents situation factually – in measureable terms (data)
Describes situation qualitatively -- writer makes it SING!

6. Presenting Census Data in a Grant Proposal
Provide a comparison (2 ways)
1. Over time (2000, 2010)
Demonstrate emerging issues affecting your population
Beware of changes in census tract boundaries
2. Compare subset data to larger group
State to national
City/town to county or State
Census tract to other tracts or to city/county

7. Top 10 Cities in Kern County
City
2000
2013
Numeric Change
Percent Change
Bakersfield city, California
247,385
352,918
105,533
42.7%
Delano city, California
38,981
52,792
13,811
35.4%
Oildale CDP, California
27,877
33,222
5,345
19.2%
Ridgecrest city, California
25,195
27,993
2,798
11.1%
Wasco city, California
21,277
25,686
4,409
20.7%
Arvin city, California
12,944
19,665
6,721
51.9%
Rosamond CDP, California
14,462
18,700
4,238
29.3%
Shafter city, California
12,757
17,088
4,331
33.9%
Lamont CDP, California
13,197
16,239
3,042
23.1%
Tehachapi city, California
10,877
14,014
3,137
28.8%
Source: Summary File 3 (SF3) and Year ACS

8. In Kern County, did the percent of children (under 18 years of age) living below poverty level increase or decrease from 2000 to 2012?
Increase
Decrease

9. Source: Census 2000 Summary File 3 and 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

10. In Kern County, did the percent of people over 65 years of age living below poverty level increase or decrease from 2000 to 2012?
Increase
Decrease

11. Source: Census 2000 Summary File 3 and 2008-2012 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

12. Source: 2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

13. Source: 2013 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

14. Charts and Graphs Data Visualization
Reduce “cognitive load”
Should be self-explanatory
Refer to charts and graphs in the narrative
“The chart on the next page illustrates increases in the Hispanic/Latino population over the past 30 years”

15. Presenting Census Data in a Grant Proposal—Thematic Maps Example: Percent of People Living Below Poverty Level by Zip Code
Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

16. Presenting Census Data in a Grant Proposal —Thematic Maps Example: Percent of Children Living Below Poverty by Census Tract
Source: American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

17. Demographic Programs 2010 Census American Community Survey (ACS)
Counts: number of people and housing units
100% coverage
American Community Survey (ACS)
Estimates demographic, social, economic characteristics of people and housing stock
Characteristics: how people live
Sample of 2.5% of U.S. households every year

18. Differences Between Decennial Census and ACS
Every 10 Years
100 Percent Data
Official Count
ACS
Yearly
Sample Data (3.54 million units per year/295K monthly)
Estimates (trends/comparisons)

19. 2010 Census Data Population Total Sex Age
Ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino Origin)
Race
Relationship of People Within Household
Rent/Own House (Tenure)
Occupied/Vacant Housing
2010 Census is a short form only Census—limited demographic characteristics; ACS is now source for “long Form” data
Decennial Census
- Every 10 years from 1790
Long form data collected
SF1, SF2, SF3, SF4
Census Data released in two “flavors” –
Aggregate data
Microdata
A third type of data product identifies geographic boundaries
Aggregate data released in a variety of products, differing in content, geographic specificity and temporal coverage
Microdata has flexibility of individual level information, but balances this by only gross geographic detail

20. Items in red were also collected on the 2010 Census.
Demographic
Social
Housing
Economic
Age
Sex
Race
Hispanic Origin
Households Relationship
Group Quarters
Households
Education
Marital Status
Fertility
Grandparent Caregivers
Veterans
Disability Status
Place of Birth
Citizenship
Health Insurance
Language Spoken at Home
Ancestry/ Tribal Affiliation
Tenure (Rent/Own)
Occupancy
Structure
Housing Value
Taxes & Insurance
Utilities
Mortgage/ Monthly Rent
Income
Benefits
Employment Status
Occupation
Industry
Commuting to Work
Items in red were also collected on the 2010 Census.

21. Block level data only for Decennial Census
Census Geography Hierarchy
(with 2010 Statistical Area Criteria)
Revised
Central axis describes
a nesting relationship
Block
Groups
Types of Place
Cities and towns -- incorporated
Census Designated Places (CDPs):
- - Unincorporated; no size threshold
- - Separate and distinct from city/town
- - Redefined each census
600 to 3,000 population
240 to 1,200 housing units
Blocks not defined by population
Lowest geographic level for data
Census Tracts
1,200 to 8,000 population (optimum 4,000)
480 to 3,200 housing units
Block level data only for Decennial Census

22. Census Data for Grant Writing

23. Workshop Information and Data Questions
Luz M. Castillo
Data Dissemination Specialist
U.S. Census Bureau
Los Angeles Region
Office:
Mobile:
Los Angeles Regional Office
Direct:
Toll Free: