Census data is used for determining seats in the House, providing services, building infrastructure like roads and schools, helping people qualify for Social Security benefits, and distributing over $675 billion in federal funding to states and communities. The census also provides a picture of the demographic, economic, and health of the country. Federal, state, and local governments use this information to plan for their communities. Businesses use this data for marketing and locating storefronts while non-profits use the information for planning and determining needs in their communities.
Here are some examples of federal funding based on census numbers :
Medical Assistance Program $311,805,244,413
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program $71,035,786,000
Medicare Part B Physicians Fee Schedule Services $70,300,000,000
Highway Planning and Construction $38,479,013,855
Federal Pell Grant Program $29,916,694,438
National School Lunch Program $18,915,944,292
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families $17,225,738,021
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher $15,761,488,440
Title 1 Grants to Local Educational Agencies $14,253,154,251
Special Education Grants to States $11,382,885,850
Head Start $8,538,887,781
For more information read Uses of Census Bureau Data in Federal Funds Distribution