Dow Donates Technology and Funds for Housing Elderly Victims of the Japanese Earthquake in Soma City

In honor of the reopening of the Dow Water & Process Solutions plant in Soma, Japan, which was damaged in the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced it will donate apartment housing for elderly residents to support the rebuilding of Soma City, one of the major regions affected by tragedy. The Dow plant is scheduled to reopen in September.

Andrew N. Liveris, Dow’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, was joined by the Mayor of Soma City, Hidekiyo Tachiya, to announce Dow’s donation, which is part of an ongoing commitment to the region announced in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

“On behalf of the women and men of Dow, I am privileged to announce the support of this much-needed effort by providing both funds and technology for the construction of a new apartment complex that can become a safe and stable home for Soma’s elderly survivors,” said Liveris. “From the earliest days in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, the mayor resolved that none of the elderly citizens of Soma City would be left to languish in temporary, evacuation housing. Dow is proud to help facilitate this commitment by building permanent homes to preserve the seniors’ safety, security and dignity.”

The complex will be made possible through the application of Dow’s technology and expertise. A single-story building combining the latest architectural technology with the wisdom of traditional Japanese housing, the complex will contain 12 individual rooms, each with its own kitchen and bathroom, as well as a large common area, a big bath and a dining room to promote companionship. Dow products and innovations to be incorporated into the project include Dow STYROFOAM™ insulation, solar panels for alternative energy, and water-purification technology.

The complex will also include space for volunteer activities so that the tenants can cultivate companionship not only among themselves, but also with the local community. Once completed at the end of 2011, the apartments will be donated to Soma City, which will be responsible for the subsequent maintenance and management of the housing.

The Dow Water and Process Solutions plant has been part of the Soma community since 1993, manufacturing ion exchange resins and providing a reverse osmosis membrane rinsing operation. The plant was shut down in the immediate aftermath, but has been on an enhanced schedule to replace the damaged assets and restore the plant to its original condition. The plant will reopen in September, re-establishing the ion exchange resin to Dow’s customers who are themselves playing a critical role in the recovery of Japan, specifically in the areas of pure drinking water and energy generation.

The apartment complex donation is a part of a multi-million dollar commitment made by Dow immediately following the tragedy, combining Dow’s products, technology, and financial support for long-term building in the region.

Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya commented, “We are deeply grateful for Dow Chemical’s donation. I am confident that the apartment for elderly disaster survivors who live alone will help to foster a sense of companionship, and we are determined to do everything we can to prevent any increase in the number of victims resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Soma City.”

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology with the “Human Element” to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress. The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world’s most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow’s diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2010, Dow had annual sales of $53.7 billion and employed approximately 50,000 people worldwide. The Company’s more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 188 sites in 35 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com.

Dow (NYSE:DOW)
Historical Stock Chart
From May 2024 to Jun 2024