CT Planning Regions Approved to Become County Equivalents

Final Federal Register Notice Published June 6, 2022

Overview

In 2019, Office of Policy and Management (OPM) Secretary Melissa McCaw requested the U.S. Census Bureau’s approval of a proposal to recognize Connecticut’s nine planning regions as the statistical equivalent of counties for the purpose of tabulating and publishing future Census data.  Read Secretary McCaw's letter to the Census Bureau .

On December 14, 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau published notice of the proposal in the Federal Register with the expectation that, following a 60-day public comment period, the proposal would be adopted and go into effect for all official Census Bureau statistical and geospatial data products starting in 2023. Upon such adoption,  Regional Councils of Governments  (COGs) will also be recognized as “county-equivalents” for the purpose of applying for federal grants that are open to counties.

On June 6, 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau published a Final Notice in the Federal Register. This notice serves as a final response to all comments received to the Proposed Notice published in the Federal Register on December 14, 2020. The Final Notice is Census Bureau's final announcement that Connecticut's request will be implemented and urges all stakeholders to immediately prepare for any impacts related to the adoption of planning regions as county-equivalents on data collection.

Connecticut Planning Regions

Connecticut Planning Regions

Connecticut Counties

Connecticut Counties

More Information

Contacts

Press/Media Inquiries – Chris Collibee (860)-418-6296; Chris.Collibee@ct.gov

Municipal Inquiries – Martin Heft (860) 418-6355; Martin.Heft@ct.gov

COG Inquiries – See list of COG Directors on OPM's website

Census Data Inquiries – Michelle Riordan-Nold (860) 937-9056; info@ctdata.org

State of Connecticut

Office of Policy and Management