For Immediate Release
Washington, D.C. June 14, 2018 - Today, we are pleased to announce the launch of the Census Business Coalition (CBC). The CBC is a non partisan coalition comprised of American enterprises and business associations who recognize an accurate and secure census as an economic imperative, and commit to working together to educate their employees, customers, & public on the necessity for a successful 2020 Census.
CBC is a nonpartisan coalition that is strictly focused on education, outreach, and serving as an information hub for business leaders. The CBC is working with business leaders at a national, state and local level. CBC members include the following organizations: The Nielsen Company, Insights Association, National Association for the Self Employed (NASE), the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. (USBC), the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey (SHCCNJ), Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC), Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce (FHACC), Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (NAHCC), the Hispanic Chamber of E-Commerce (HISCEC), National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Council for Community and Economic Research (C2ER), Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, the Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE), the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce and the HUBZone Contractors National Council.
“Today, the small business community has organized to shine a bright light on the importance of reliable census data and its significance to our nation’s economy,” stated DeVere Kutscher, Executive Director of the Census Business Coalition. “By providing a repository for data, and educating the larger business community, CBC aims to cut through the politics, and provide entrepreneurs and small businesses the tools necessary to maintain their status as the engines of our national economy.”
Joseph Fortson, Census Business Coalition Chairman and Senior Vice President, Government Relations and Public Policy for The Nielsen Company said: “As opposed to direct legislative advocacy, the CBC engages the private sector directly to help American business play a key role in promoting a secure and accurate 2020 Census. CBC will focus on outreach to trade associations, chambers of commerce, business organizations and other enterprises. Together, the Coalition is building a repository of census-related information and research designed to educate executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, and business leaders, on the importance of the Census to their future prosperity and the healthy growth of our nation’s economy.”
Below are statements from members of the CBC:
The nation’s business community relies on the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS) to make operational and resource investment decisions, and guide strategic business development. Howard Fienberg, Vice President of Advocacy for the Insights Association, emphasized the adverse economic impact of an inaccurate 2020 Census: “An inaccurate 2020 Census would be a major disruption to American business, especially the small business community. It would also prevent policy-makers from making informed decisions in response to demographic and socio-economic changes.”
Ron Busby, President & CEO of U.S. Black Chambers, Inc. appreciates the private sector engagement. “Small business advocates make the case on Capitol Hill. The nonpartisan Census Business Coalition will educate consumers and business organizations on the risks posed by an inaccurate census, and provide them a roadmap on how to prevent calamity.” Mr. Busby continued, “The U.S. Black Chamber will activate our membership, and use to our influence within the national small business community, to promote participation in the 2020 Census.”
CBC was founded by long-time small business advocates DeVere Kutscher and Katie Vlietstra Wonnenberg and managed by Public Private Strategies and to give enterprises and business associations a voice in public policy.
Kathleen Warnick, NAWBO National Board Chair said: “As we launch CBC today, NAWBO, the unified voice for our nation’s 10 million women-owned small businesses, is excited to add our voice in the promotion of an accurate 2020 Census.”
Keith Hall, President & CEO of NASE: “The micro business economy has experienced exponential growth since the last decennial census. Their success or failure is partly dependent on access to training, information and economic data. CBC’s mission and broad coalition underscores the importance of reliable 2020 Census data for this evolving and growing sector of our economy.”
Tayde Aburto, CEO of HISCEC: “We are very excited for today’s launch of CBC. Like all Americans, Hispanic small business owners are rapidly expanding into e-commerce. An accurate census will determine the distribution of federal broadband grants, and other infrastructure funding crucial for success in the 21st century.”
Justin Nelson, President & CEO of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) said: “The NGLCC is excited to join this new venture. The census and American Community Survey provide policymakers and the business community with an accurate reflection of our diverse and vibrant nation. The Census Business Coalition will ensure the 2020 census reflects this diversity, directs resources proportionally, and provides Wisconsin’s LGBT business community with clarity as they expand and grow.”
Carlos Medina, Chairman of SHCCNJ: “The Census Business Coalition brings together a diverse coalition of national, state, and local organizations to emphasize the importance of an accurate and complete 2020 Census. As a growing and vibrant, expanding economic powerhouse, it is difficult to overstate the importance of the 2020 Census for New Jersey’s 119,000 Hispanic-owned businesses.”
Ken Poole, President and CEO of C2ER: “The census data provides the clearest picture possible of where we are, and where we’re headed as a nation. Simply put, accurate and reliable census data informs federal, state and local resource allocation, and provides businesses with the ability to plan for the future.”
Santiago Marquez, President & CEO of GHCC: “As one of the largest Hispanic Chambers in the country, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is honored to join CBC to help stress the importance of the 2020 Census, and provide a resource to organizations here in Georgia, and across the country.”
Chiling Tong, President & CEO of National ACE said: “The U.S. Asian population grew 72% between 2000 and 2015 (from 11.9 million to 20.4 million), the fastest growth rate of any major racial or ethnic group. As the organization that represents the most entrepreneurial segment of this demographic, we recognize the economic impact of an accurate Census in 2020. Our chamber is an enthusiastic member of the Census Business Coalition, and we look forward to getting to work!”
Yuri Cunza, President & CEO of NAHCC: “The Census Business Coalition is an extension of our mission of promoting dialogue and engagement. As the oldest Hispanic nonprofit business membership organization in Tennessee, the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has long served as a bridge between the Hispanic and all communities in the Nashville area."
Santos Arroyo, Founder & CEO of the Florida Hispanic American Chamber of Commerce said: “We are excited about the mission of the CBC, as we work to ensure that everyone is accurately represented in the 2020 Census. We are especially aware of of its importance during this time of rapid growth for our state of Florida.”
Mark Fisher, Chief Policy Officer at the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce said: “Our chamber has been active member in previous Complete Count committees, and is proud to be part of this greater coalition, working towards the common goal of complete count for the 2020 Census. As a dynamic and growing city, Indianapolis and our business community in particular, understands how critical an accurate census is for our community.”
Shirley Bailey, Board Chair of the HUBZone Contractors National Council said: "The Census Business Coalition is focused on critical issues for us. The Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Contracting Program encourages small businesses to locate in and hire employees from economically distressed areas of the United States. Since HUBZones are determined by census-determined economic indicators, we are probably more aware than most of the absolutely critical role accurate census data plays in future economic development for American businesses and the communities in which they thrive.”
More about the Census Business Coalition can be learned here. In the coming months, CBC will be reaching out to additional corporations and business associations to join their ranks.
For more information visit www.censusbusinesscoalition.org or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank">devere@censusbusinesscoalition.org
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