Journeys Summer 2019 | Page 9

3 Census 101: Counting on Cabarrus The U.S. Constitution requires that each decade we take a count — or census — of America’s population. The 2020 Census will mail this fall and is due April 1, 2020. The Census bureau will increase its use of technology with the 2020 Census. For the first time, you can respond online, by phone or by mail. Here’s why Cabarrus is counting on your partici- pation in the 2020 Census: • It determines how many representatives each state gets in Congress and is used to redraw district boundaries. • Each year, the federal government distributes more than $675 billion to states and commu- nities based on Census Bureau data. Of this, our community receives $1,600 annually for each person counted in Cabarrus County. • Communities rely on Census statistics to plan for a variety of resident needs, including new roads, schools and emergency services. • Businesses use Census data to decide where to locate facilities and create jobs. To request a presentation on the 2020 Census, email [email protected]. For more information on the 2020 Census, visit http:// www.census.gov. To apply for Census jobs, visit http://census.gov/fieldjobs. 4 Cabarrus Courthouse expansion project moving forward Messer Construction, which recently completed work on the County’s five-story parking deck in downtown Concord, will collaborate with Silling Architects during the design phase of the Cabarrus Courthouse expansion project. Messer is working with Silling — hired by Cabarrus County commissioners in February — to provide opinions on constructability during the design. This collaboration will help drive down construction contingencies, and in turn costs, according to Cabarrus County Area Manager Kyle Bilafer. Messer’s role at this stage is referred to as construction manager at-risk. Construction on the 250,000-square-foot expansion is slated to begin in 2020. Following the expansion, the existing courthouse will undergo renovation. The roughly two-year expansion/renovation will update the aging 45-year-old building and help with an ongoing increase in local court use. The expansion/renovation project will relocate the courthouse entrance to Means Avenue, creating enhanced access from Church and Union streets. The plan also calls for the new building footprint to extend into Means Avenue, a one-way street that connects Union and Church streets in downtown Concord. Plans call for Means to be replaced by a public plaza. For more information, visit http://cabarruscounty.us. cabarruscounty.us/seniors 7