The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) today announced the completion of Dow Soma Nagaya (Soma City, Fukushima), an apartment complex for the elderly victims of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and donated the building and its ownership to the City of Soma.

At Soma City Hall in August, 2011, Dow Chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris announced the construction of the Dow Soma Nagaya complex and pledged to donate it to Soma City upon its completion.

“A number of Dow Chemical employees work in Soma, and their families live there.  Soma is our precious hometown,” said Diego Donoso, president, Dow Japan, in the presence of Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya and more than 150 others in attendance, including community leaders, Soma city council members, companies involved in the construction and local Dow employees and family members, among others. “By taking care of the elderly in our community, we can also cultivate a sense of security among the younger generation, and they will feel Soma is their safe and peaceful permanent hometown. We are committed to operating our Soma plant and at the same time, we will continue to support the Soma rebuild.” 

To commemorate the occasion, Donoso handed a key made of Dow STYROFOAM^TM brand extruded polystyrene foam to Mayor Tachiya.

Soma City Mayor Hidekiyo Tachiya commented, “We are deeply appreciative of Dow Chemical’s donation. We hope that efforts to prevent elderly victims from dying alone, such as this community housing project, will spread to other disaster impacted areas.”

The complex was made possible through the application of Dow’s technology and expertise, and features many elements of traditional Japanese housing, such as tatami-covered communal social space and dining and bathing facilities, as well as traditional engawa, corridor type verandahs. And with spaces provided for volunteer activities and other group gatherings, the Nagaya is designed to lessen tenants’ feelings of isolation and to enhance a sense of companionship and social connection with the local community. The barrier-free, single-storied Nagaya is also designed to respect personal privacy, with each of the 12 individual apartments equipped with two rooms and private bathroom and kitchen.

Soma Nagaya is insulated with STYROFOAM^TM brand extruded polystyrene foam, Dow’s insulation material which contributes to less CO₂ emissions and keeps the building warm in winter and cool in summer. The stable temperature in the Nagaya is expected to prevent heat-shock accidents among the elderly tenants during cold winter.

Construction and donation of the complex is a part of a multi-million dollar commitment made by Dow following the earthquake and tsunami. In the immediate aftermath, the Company donated $US2 million for emergency relief efforts to the Soma City Disaster Relief Fund.

The Dow 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 of the disaster, reopening in September of the same year and 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.

About Dow

Dow (NYSE: DOW) combines the power of science and technology 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 2011, Dow had annual sales of $60 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 197 sites in 36 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.

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

OLD - Dow Chemical Company

With annual sales of $54 billion and 46,000 employees worldwide, Dow is a diversified chemical company that combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to constantly improve what is essential to human progress. The Company delivers a broad range of products and services to customers in around 160 countries, connecting chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help provide everything from fresh water, food and pharmaceuticals to paints, packaging and personal care products. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted.