Manor Twp. Concerned About 2010 Census

Armstrong County Housing Division Director Adrienne Commodore says the township must be over 4,000 residents to continue to qualify for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

by David Croyle

Manor Township supervisors are concerned about losing funding from the state and federal government if their population decreases during the current census.

According to Armstrong County Housing Division Director Adrienne Commodore, the township must be over 4,000 residents to continue to qualify as an entitlement community for Community Development Block Grants (CDBG).

“The population count was 4,231 persons in 2000,” Commodore told supervisors last week. “That is how close you came last time. It must not go below 4,000.”

As an entitlement community, Manor Township is eligible for as much as $100,000 each year to make improvements in the township.

“We are really pushing Armstrong County residents to complete the census because it has a bearing on the amount of grant funding that comes into this municipality and the county. It is based on numbers. We can only get correct numbers through a census,” Commodore said.

“It was at 5,030 when I came on as Supervisor in 1976,” Supervisor Howard Jack told Commodore. 

“Talk to neighbors, family members, or anybody who lives in Manor Township to let them know how important census is,” Commodore urged. “If numbers do not stay at 4,000 or more, you could be in jeopardy of losing designation.”

“It is about getting appropriations to people who need it most,” Armstrong County Commissioner Rich Fink explained at a separate meeting. “Everyone should participate. Whether it is federal or state, the census will play an important part.” 

Commissioner Patricia Kirkpatrick agreed. “CDBG looks at the numbers. For entitlement communities, it is critical to have the numbers to see how much dollars can be received. It is up to us for elected officials to get word out.”

Commissioner James Scahill said attrition rates are well established. “We have slowly lost population. We are one out of four that are age 60 or above. We are aging.  The average age in housing is 47. There are pockets of growth and stable communities, but some are losing. If you are an entitlement community, you get an extra pot of money.”

A census short form of ten questions will be mailed in March.