DESOTO COUNTY, MS - A thousand jobs are coming to DeSoto County thanks to the 2010 Census. Wednesday, the Bureau's office opened in Horn Lake and is now accepting applications. People say, just as important as the jobs themselves, is the job being done.
"It's a great honor to stand up and be counted as an American, and we all need to get counted this year," said Hernando Mayor Chip Johnson.
The U.S. Census Bureau's looking for people to do the counting, and it's willing to pay about 1,000 people to do it. It's part time work that will start in the Spring. You just have to be a U.S. citizen and live in the county where you're working.
"1,000 jobs. Even if they're part-time, even if they're intermittent, that's a big deal," said Lillian McCullough area manager for the U.S. Census Bureau.
The new office will service 20 counties in North Mississippi. People will go door-to-door to visiting households that didn't return questionnaires by mail. Getting that information is critical.
7 "There's like $400 billion on the table in federal funds that's going to be made available to states in this country,” McCullough said. “And how much of it Mississippi gets will be dependent upon what you're population count is."
And there's more than money to be gained.
"We in DeSoto County have a chance to gain another state senate seat and two representative seats,” Johnson said. “That would give us three more people at the Capitol in Jackson representing our interests. That would be huge for DeSoto County."
They won't say what the pay rate is exactly for these new jobs, just that they do pay well. People can find out during the interview process
To apply for jobs with the US Census Bureau, call this toll-free number:1-866-861-2010.
Another Census office is also opening next Tuesday in Cordova.
