Why another program to improve the address list?
Despite extensive efforts by the Census Bureau and local governments, past censuses have always missed a substantial number of addresses.  That is a serious concern for several reasons, including the fact that each person missed by the census results in roughly $1,000 less federal funding for state and local governments each year, or $10,000 over the course of a decade.

How does this program relate to LUCA?
This final review is separate from the "Local Update of Census Addresses" (LUCA) program, but it has the same goal of seeking complete coverage by the Census.  This review is designed to correct omissions, human error, and processing error in the address canvassing process that verified (or, in some cases, rejected) information from LUCA and other sources based on physical examination by temporary Census Bureau employees.  That process is designed to be error-free, but past experience indicates that it is not. 

Communities that disagree with the Census Bureau's handling of addresses that they submitted through LUCA should seek resolution of those issues through the LUCA appeals process, rather than relying on this final address review.  (Addresses that are added through the LUCA process will receive questionnaires in the mail, and they will be followed up during the normal followup period.  Addresses added through this final review will not be surveyed until the final phase of census operations, after the normal followup period.  This review will also focus primarily on large clusters of missed housing units.)

Who should participate?
This program is open to any Michigan community, but it will be most useful to: 

* Large communities outside Southeast Michigan.
(Large communities may benefit more than small communities because the Census Bureau will begin by focusing its efforts on the largest clusters of missed housing units.)

* Smaller communities outside Southeast Michigan that did not participate in LUCA.
(Communities that did not participate in LUCA will generally benefit more than other communities because they are more likely to have addresses that are missing from the Census Bureau's list.)

* Communities outside Southeast Michigan with a substantial number of non-city style addresses, regardless of LUCA participation. 
(Communities with a large number of non-city style addresses should consider participating because such locations are easily missed by other census operations and because, unlike LUCA, this program is able to accept information about them.)

Information is not needed for Southeast Michigan because the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) is already providing data for communities in that seven-county region that agree to participate.

What is required to participate?
In order to participate in this program, a community needs to provide a reliable address list that meets the requirements established by the Census Bureau.  IF THOSE REQUIREMENTS CANNOT BE MET, THEN THE COMMUNITY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS OPTIONAL PROGRAM. 

The requirements that are most likely to be difficult for some communities to meet are:
(a) Providing latitude and longitude coordinates for each parcel or housing unit;
(b) Excluding non-residential property and vacant lots;
(c) Providing data on the number of housing units on each parcel (unless there is a separate record for each housing unit on the parcel).

A full list of mandatory and optional fields is available by clicking here.  If a community can meet the requirement for some of its addresses but not for others, it is acceptable to omit the records for which the requirements cannot be met.

How can a community participate?
In order to participate, a community should:

(1) Send an email to the State Demographer (DargaK@michigan.gov) indicating that they intend to submit an address list, and indicating the format of the available latitude/longitude coordinates.  (Click here for information about formats for latitude and longitude.)

(2) Import data into the template available by clicking here, including all of the mandatory fields as well as any optional fields that are available.  The template can be opened with FoxPro, dBase, Excel, or other software that recognizes the dbf format.

(3) Send the completed template on a CD or DVD by November 1, 2009 to:
          Kenneth Darga, State Demographer
          Dept. of Information Technology / CSS
          111 S. Capitol Ave / 10th Floor
          Lansing MI 48913

(Files smaller than 100k can also be sent as an email attachment instead of on a CD or DVD.)

Please address any questions to DargaK@michigan.gov

Helpful Resources
The following links will be helpful to communities participating in this program:
          List of mandatory and optional fields
          Template for submitting data
          Information on latitude and longitude coordinates
          List of FIPS codes for counties, county subdivisions, and places
             [See columns E, F, and G.]