State ranks high in Census grants

Mississippi ranks 10th in the nation for federal spending per person from grants that are based on the Census count.

That’s according to a new study, released yesterday, by the Brookings Institution in Washington.

The report says nearly three-quarters of federal grant money was distributed to states, cities and counties based on results of the Census, which is taken every 10 years.

During the 2008 federal budget year, Mississippi received $1,900 per capita in federal grants based on the Census count. That’s higher than the national average of $1,469 per capita.

Mississippi’s capital city, Jackson, ranks seventh among the nation’s metro areas, at $2,121 per capita.

The Census is being conducted this year.