Dow Awards More Than $100,000 in Community Grants

Louisiana - September 12, 2006

For the first year since its inception in 1997, the Dow Community Grant program has awarded more than $100,000 in community grants supporting local non-profit organizations.  This year’s 24 recipients will use the grants to fund multiple community projects that benefit local residents in Assumption, Iberville and West Baton Rouge Parishes. 

The Dow Community Grant Program has awarded over $711,000 in grant dollars to 161 separate projects since its introduction in 1997.

The 2006 grants were distributed at a ceremony held September 7 at the Dow Conference Center. A committee of Dow employees and community residents reviewed the proposals and selected the projects that best matched the criteria for the program.  Proposals were required to produce results that would benefit many people in the community.

In 2006, Dow Louisiana Operations is celebrating 50 years in Louisiana.  In honor of this accomplishment, Dow offered a special “50^th Anniversary Golden Grant” worth $10,000, instead of a standard community grant worth a maximum of $5,000.  Five of the 24 grant winners received this special “50^th Anniversary Golden Grant.”

The 2006 community grant recipients and projects include:

Iberville

Plaquemine Main Street Program for the Triple-A Road Show – Archaeology Agriculture & Atchafalaya; Iberville Museum Association for the Museum School; The Plaquemine Lions Club for the Medical Equipment Loan Program; North Iberville Council on Aging – Rosedale for Relocation Supplies; Village of Grosse Tete for the Grosse Tete Summer Program; Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program for Operation Opportunity Expansion.

Assumption

Assumption Cultural Arts Guild, Inc. for the Show Me the Talent Art Camp; Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office for Operations Safe Deputy; Napoleonville Volunteer Fire Department for Rescue and Training Equipment; Assumption Parish School Board for Safety Town; Assumption Association for Retarded Citizens, Inc. for ARC Party Rentals.

West Baton Rouge

Civic League of Addis Inc. for Kitchen Area Equipment for the Addis Community Center; City of Port Allen – Veterans on Parade Committee for Veterans on Parade 2006; Erwinville Community Children’s Organization for Fresh Food for Families; Career Builders of Louisiana for PTEC 101 for West Baton Rouge High School Students; West Baton Rouge Parish Office of Homeland Security for Safety Town.

Iberville and West Baton Rouge

Carruth Scout Preserve Management Committee for the Carruth Scout Preserve Pavilion; Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana for Nurturing Parenting.

Assumption, West Baton Rouge and Iberville

Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation for Community Call: Baton Rouge Sickle Cell Needs You!

50^th Anniversary Golden Grant

Assumption Parish Recreation District #2 for the Veterans Park Playground Equipment Project; Iberville Parish Parks & Recreation District for the Belleview District Park Concession Stand Enlargement; Iberville Parish Council for Imagine Iberville and the Iberville Parish Boat Landing Improvement; West Baton Rouge Parish Library for a Community Gazebo for Outdoor Reading; Addis Historical Society for the Town Center Project.

For Editorial Information:

Gary Cambre
The Dow Chemical Company
(225) 353-8265