Dow Announces Third Year of Community Grants Program

Freeport, TX - April 20, 2006

By the numbers, the Dow Community Grants Program has distributed more than $362,000 to help fund 36 projects for local non-profit groups since 2004. But the strength in those numbers are the thousands of people who have been helped because those organizations saw needs in the community and decided to act.

"There are a lot of non-profits doing great work in this community," said Bill Ghant, Community Relations Manager for Dow Texas Operations. "Our competitive grants program allows us to work with them in identifying smaller, high-value projects. The successful applicants are those who have solid plans and reflect sustainable results."

Dow Texas Operations has allocated $200,000 for the 2006 Community Grants Program. Local non-profit organizations are invited to compete for one of two grants. The "Diamond" Grant is worth up to $5,000 and the "65th Anniversary" Grant has a maximum gift of $25,000.

In recognition of Dow Texas Operations' 65th anniversary of making commercial products, an additional "65th Anniversary" Grant was created for this year.

Applications for the 2006 Dow Community Grants Program will be available May 1 at www.dowtexasoperations.com or by requesting one via e-mail at ffrtxpa@dow.com. Additional program information is also available at the website. The deadline for submitting an application is June 16.

To qualify, organizations must have a 501(c)(3) nonprofit tax designation or be a municipal or government agency and be a resident of southern Brazoria County.

Each submission must be accompanied by 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 charitable giving criteria. Proposals meeting the 2006 Community Grants Program guidelines will be evaluated and scored by a Grants Review Committee.

Projects with an emphasis on visible and sustainable improvements will be sought. Only one application per organization may be submitted. Community projects submitted must also have a Dow employee as the sponsor of the non-profit organization that receives the community grant.

The Dow Community Grants Program is a premier component of Dow Texas Operations charitable giving capabilities and provides the mechanisms 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," said Ghant. "Dow is committed to enhancing the quality of life in our neighboring communities and the Community Grants Program is a great way to ensure that we accomplish our goal. We're looking forward to a lot of great applications."

Dow is a diversified chemical company that harnesses the power of science and technology to improve living daily. The Company offers a broad range of innovative products and services to customers in more than 175 countries, helping them to provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. Built on a commitment to its principles of sustainability, Dow has annual sales of $46 billion and employs 42,000 people worldwide. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.

For Editorial Information:

David Winder
Dow Texas Operations
(979) 238-3792