The Leon County Board of County Commissioners and the U.S. Census Bureau have partnered with area agencies to host the first annual Hispanic Heritage Fest, both to honor Hispanic Heritage Month and as a way to raise awareness of Census 2010.

The five-day-long festival will be held at various locations around the County and will include films, food, dance, art and exhibitions.

Hispanic Heritage Month takes place annually from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and recognizes the contributions that the Hispanic community has made to the nation. The month begins on Sept. 15 because it marks the anniversary of independence for five Latin-American countries.

The event will also serve as a platform for the County’s 2010 Census promotion campaign to raise awareness of the importance of accurate completion of the 2010 Census questionnaire.

Because members of the Hispanic community have been historically undercounted, the U.S. Census Bureau has joined forces with the County to educate, empower and emphasize the safety and confidentiality of the Census count.

Census data is used to determine how approximately $300 billion in federal funds are distributed annually to state, local, and tribal areas for critical community services, including community development block grants and other grant programs. It is estimated that each uncounted results in a loss of $1,268 of funds, per person, per year.