LUCA is the only opportunity offered to tribal, state, and local governments to review and comment on the U.S. Census Bureau’s residential address list for their jurisdiction prior to the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau relies on a complete and accurate address list to reach every living quarters and associated population for inclusion in the census. The Census Address List Improvement Act of 1994 (Public Law 103-430) authorizes the LUCA. The deadline to register for LUCA is December 15, 2017.
The LUCA invitation letter and forms were recently mailed to the Highest Elected Officials (HEOs) and Tribal Chairpersons (TCs).
Who Can Participate?
Active, functioning governments are eligible to participate in LUCA.
If your government lacks the resources to participate in LUCA, you can arrange for an organization, such as regional planning agency, to conduct your review.
Why Participate?
- Governments that participate in the LUCA operation help ensure an accurate decennial census count for their communities.
- An accurate count helps the federal government annually allocate more than $400 billion across 26 federal agencies for tribal, state, and local government programs and services.
- To help your community plan for future needs.
What is the LUCA Schedule?
January 2017: Advance notification of the LUCA operation mailed to the HEO or TC of all eligible governments and other LUCA contacts.
March 2017: LUCA promotional workshops began.
July 2017: Invitation letter and registration forms mailed to the HEO or TC of all eligible governments.
October 2017: Training workshops begin. Self-training aids and Webinars will be available online at the LUCA website.
December 15, 2017: Deadline to register for LUCA.
February 2018: Participation materials mailed to registered participants.
August 2019: Feedback materials offered to participants with the results of address canvassing.
April 1, 2020: Census Day.
Registration
The Census Bureau mailed LUCA invitations and forms to the TC or HEO for every legally functioning entity in the United States and Puerto Rico. We also mailed a copy of the invitation letter without forms to contacts who have participated in other geographic programs. Contacts at regional planning agencies should get in touch with their HEO to discuss the LUCA Operation and participation. Officials may designate a contact at their regional planning agency as the LUCA Liaison for their area, on the registration form.
To register for LUCA, TCs/HEOs should return completed forms to the Census Bureau by December 15, 2017. Please contact [email protected] with questions about registering.
Dedicated staff are also available to assist you during normal business hours by phone.
Geographic Programs Support Desk toll-free telephone number: 1-844-344-0169
New York Regional Geography Department: (212) 584-3430
E-mail: [email protected]