Count on It--the Census Is Coming
Census 2000 is coming, but you can get estimates, to the minute, of the population of the U.S. and the world on the Census Bureau's site. And the Bureau doesn't just count people every 10 years, it studies business activities and gathers other critical data between censuses. Census has business data for more than 30,000 zip codes. You can "test drive" the data before you buy a subscription. For the big 2-0-0-0 on its way, the Census Bureau will hire temporary staff at headquarters, in the regions, and in field offices all over the country. Find out more here.

How to Find a Farmers Market Online
Summer's blackberries, corn, and butter beans are at their best in August. And there's nowhere better to shop for the freshest of the fresh than a farmers market. On the Agriculture Marketing Service's site you can get a list of the markets in your state by clicking on a map. And in case you didn't know, you can set up a farmers market on federal property. Find out the rules and how to do it right here.

Managing Water in the American West
Precious water in the American West must be preserved and managed for the benefit of all. If you are a farmer, fisherman, industrialist, whitewater rafter, or vacationer in the nine states of the Great Plains Region, visit the beautiful and helpful website of the Bureau of Reclamation. Get monthly water supply reports. Find the water level of dozens of reservoirs and lakes. Locate camp sites, picnic areas, trailer dump stations, concessions, boat rentals, and swimming opportunities in major recreational areas. And don't leave the site until you "glimpse the past."

Online Center Helps Women Start and Build a Business
If you are a woman who owns a business or dreams of starting one, the SBA's Office of Women's Business Ownership is eager to help. OWBO offers a wide array of programs and resources, many as close as your fingertips.