U.S. Census drives are kicking off all across the country in an effort to get an accurate count of populations in towns, cities, counties and states.

It is a process that comes around every 10 years and because of the length of time between counts, it is vitally important to get the count right.

Much depends on those numbers — federal aid dollars and representation in Congress among them.

In local communities, it can mean the difference between that new restaurant or retail shop people want to come to their town. If the count is too low, those businesses look elsewhere.

The Census 2010 slogan, “We can’t move forward until you mail it back,” referring to the census information form, is right on target. Communities cannot move forward with inaccurate counts.

With $400 billion in federal funds for infrastructure and other aid at stake, it is easy to see how the census affects the future.

Hospitals, highways, bridges, senior citizen centers, emergency services and schools all vie for those dollars, and population and demographics figure mightily into the equation of who gets what.

When the census packet arrives at your home, or a census worker contacts you, supply the information needed. It is in the best interest of all to stand up and be counted.