What is a Census Information Center (CIC)?

In October 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau officially designated MCIC as one of 58 Census Information Centers (CIC's) in the country. Inaugurated in 1988, the CIC Program is a cooperative venture between the U.S. Census Bureau and national level, community-based organizations, colleges and universities to serve as auxiliary census data distribution centers reaching underserved populations.

As a CIC, MCIC has priority access to a wide variety of U.S. Census datasets, updates and reports; advanced query access to microdata files; priority access to the new American Community Survey (ACS); and priority access to 2010 census data, as it becomes available in 2011.

The mission of the CIC Program is to provide efficient access to Census Bureau data products through a wide data dissemination network of organizations. CIC's are recognized as official sources of demographic, economic and social statistics produced by the U.S. Census Bureau.

CIC's provide training and technical assistance to local governments, businesses, community groups and other interested data users in accessing and using Census Bureau data for research, program administration, planning and decision making purposes.

What does the MCIC Census Information Center offer?

• Metro Chicago Facts OnLine is a user-friendly, online data and information resource that aggregates U.S. Census and a variety of other useful datasets and index models into standard or custom defined geographic areas in the 6-county metropolitan Chicago region. Define your area of interest and instantly download customized maps and data tables.
  
  
• The MCIC Help Desk is staffed by a friendly, knowledgeable analyst who will work closely with you to answer your questions and deliver the information you need in a format you can use. Not sure where to begin? Tired of spending hours searching for the information you need? Have a data or information question, but don't know how to find the answer? Call 312.580.2596 during regular business hours or e-mail info@mcic.org.
  
  
  Please note: depending on the complexity of your data request, there may be a reasonable fee charged for data retrieval and/or mapping services.
  
  
  
• Throughout the year, MCIC issues substantive Publications and Reports on a wide variety of subjects of interest to those living and working in the metropolitan Chicago region and beyond. Recent report titles include:
  • Examining the Path to U.S. Citizenship
    
    
  • Emerging Markets and Financial Services in the Latino Community: Problems and Strategies
    
    
  • Arts Participation in the Metropolitan Chicago Region: Growing Audiences in a Region of Cultural Over-Achievers
    
    
  • Doing It Their Way: Baby Boomers and Retirement
    
    
• Orientation and Training accessing and using data and information to answer strategic questions about your organization, the populations you serve and the environment in which you work. As a Subscriber, you'll receive priority notification of MCIC Orientations and Training Sessions.