Dow's FilmTec partners with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity

EDINA, MN, Oct. 9, 2006 -- FilmTec Corp., a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company and part of Dow Water Solutions, is partnering with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity during the week of October 9 to help build a five-unit home to provide housing for St. Paul families. FilmTec, based in Edina, is co-sponsoring the build financially, through funding from the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation, as well as through employee volunteering, as part of the company's ongoing commitment to contributing to community success in the Twin Cities area and enhancing the quality of life of local residents.

"We aim to have a positive influence in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area," said Ian Barbour, FilmTec chief executive officer. "Partnering with Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity for this build provides us a chance to make the community in which we do business a better place to live."

On behalf of FilmTec, the Dow Foundation donated $60,000 towards the construction of one unit of a five-unit residential home in Frogtown, a St. Paul neighborhood. Additionally, 15 to 18 FilmTec employees per day are volunteering to assist with the construction of the home.

"We have maintained a valuable and fruitful partnership with Dow," said Emma Mogendorff, corporate relations officer, Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity. "FilmTec's participation in this build speaks to its dedication to the local community and its people. We are excited for the opportunity to work with them."

"At FilmTec, we truly value the dedication and compassion of our employees," stated Barbour. "Building and providing safe and affordable housing for local families is essential to establishing stronger, healthier communities." The volunteer effort is aligned with Dow's 2015 Sustainability Goals, announced by Andrew Liveris, chairman and CEO, in May 2006, which outline Dow's commitment to addressing pressing global economic, social and environmental concerns, including the lack of sustainable water supplies, adequate food and decent housing.

Dow has been an active supporter of Habitat for Humanity International since the early 1980s. Dow lends support to the organization in many ways, including sponsorship funding, donations, and employee volunteer work crews at builds throughout the world.

FilmTec Corporation is a subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. Established in Minnetonka in 1977, FilmTec Corp. was purchased by Dow in 1985 and is the leading producer of reverse osmosis and nanofiltration membrane elements for industrial, municipal, commercial and home drinking water treatment and purification and other specialty applications.

Dow Water Solutions (www.dowwatersolutions.com), with revenues of approximately $350 million, is a performance-based business unit comprised of leading world-class brands and enabling component technologies designed to advance the science of water purification around the world, including seawater desalination, contaminant removal and water reuse. With more than 1,000 employees worldwide, the business maintains five production facilities globally to manufacture, market and sell FILMTEC™ reverse osmosis membranes, DOWEX™ ion exchange resins, ADSORBSIA™ GTO™ titanium-based arsenic removal media, ultrafiltration, electrodeionization, and premier water purification systems in China.

Dow Chemical (www.dow.com) 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.

The mission of Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity (www.tchabitat.org) is to eliminate poverty housing from the Twin Cities and to make decent, affordable shelter for all people a matter of conscience. Volunteer labor, donated materials and contributed funds are used to build and renovate homes in the Twin Cities area. Working under the faith-based principle that no profit should be gained from assisting those in need, Habitat for Humanity charges no interest on the homes that it sells. Families who purchase Habitat homes are selected based on need, ability to repay the zero percent mortgage, and willingness to partner. Families put in 300-500 hours of "sweat equity" helping to build Habitat homes. Since 1985, TCHFH has built more than 625 homes in the seven-county metro area and engages more than 20,000 volunteers a year.

Habitat for Humanity International (www.habitat.org) is an ecumenical Christian ministry that welcomes to its work all people dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in Americus, Ga., in 1976, Habitat has built more than 200,000 houses in nearly 100 countries, providing simple, decent and affordable shelter for more than 1 million people.

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Also see: "Dow Chemical, Union Pacific and Union Tank Car to collaborate for secure chemicals transportation"

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