Dow Texas Operations Announces $200,000 Community Grants Program for 2004

Freeport, TX - January 14, 2004

Dow Texas Operations is proud to announce that it will be launching a competitive grant program for community projects in southern Brazoria County for 2004. The site has allocated $200,000 from its charitable giving budget to help support projects of local non-profit organizations that have identified social, economic or environmental needs, which will enhance the quality of life for our neighbors.

"Dow is committed to enhancing the quality of life in its neighboring communities and one of the resources we have at our disposal to do that is charitable giving,” said Jan Huisman, Public Affairs Leader for Dow in Texas. "The past year brought with it challenges and challenges often drive changes. One of the changes that we are compelled to implement is our approach to charitable giving. We will continue to support our communities with charitable gifts, but we will focus our efforts to ensure every dollar donated brings with it tangible results and makes a positive impact."

As part of the 2004 Community Grants Program, non-profit organizations are invited to compete for one of two grants. The "Diamond" Grant is worth up to $5,000 and the "Living. Improved daily." Grant has a maximum gift of $25,000. Multiple projects will be selected for each type of grant.

"We will still accept requests year-round, but those will be fewer and larger than what we've done in the past," said Huisman. "The Community Grants Program provides the mechanism for Dow to work with the community on a number of smaller and high value projects."

Projects that impact a large number of people and emphasize visible and sustainable improvements will be the most competitive in the selection process. To qualify, organizations must have a 501(c)(3) non-profit tax designation, be a municipal or government agency or public school and be a resident of southern Brazoria County. Each submission must have a funding statement for the project.

Community projects submitted must also have a Dow employee as the sponsor for the non-profit organization and must meet Dow's charitable giving criteria. Proposals meeting the 2004 Community Grants Program guidelines will be evaluated and scored by a Grants Review Committee.

Applications for the 2004 Dow Community Grants Program will be available at www.dowtexasoperations.com in late April.

Dow is a leading science and technology company that provides innovative chemical, plastic and agricultural products and services to many essential consumer markets. With annual sales of $28 billion, Dow serves customers in more than 170 countries and a wide range of markets that are vital to human progress, including food, transportation, health and medicine, personal and home care, and building and construction, among others. Committed to the principles of Sustainable Development, Dow and its approximately 50,000 employees seek to balance economic, environmental and social responsibilities.

For Editorial Information:

David Winder
The Dow Chemical Company
(979) 238-3792
dwinder@dow.com