The city Abbeville is gearing up to help boost numbers this year by informing residents about the importance of reporting accurate numbers to the government.

The census is helping the city in several ways. Abbeville city leaders are preparing to launch a massive effort to increase numbers for the upcoming 2010 census.

Abbeville mayor Ryan Blalock said, "we've lived with the number we've had for 10 years now and we are ready to prove that we are over 3000 and that is our goal and it has cost us money in the past."

During the last census many residents went unaccounted for, costing the city thousands of dollars in grant money.

Vicki Bedsole with the census county committee in Abbeville said, “When we were looking at grants we missed 100,000 dollars by 13 people. We know we had those people but they have to resend and be counted."

This year workers will be traveling door to door to collect census data from households who do not respond to the initial mail out. That effort is creating jobs in the city.

Blalock said, “We do have several people who are out of work right now. Our unemployment rate is right around 10 for the county right now. Certainly a great time for good paying jobs to come in."

Census forms will be mailed out in March. Workers will be tracking you down in April if you don't respond.

If you'd like more information about the census or employment you may stop by the Abbeville city hall or call the city at 585-6444