COLUMBIA, Md.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep. 25, 2009-- W. R. Grace & Co. (NYSE:GRA) has received the P&B Exceptional 53 Award from The Gazette of Politics and Business.

The P&B Award recognizes 53 exceptional companies in the State of Maryland based on four factors: Innovation & Creativity; Economic Performance; Positive Work Environment and Community Service.

Grace was recognized in part for its active R&D pipeline; outreach through the Grace CommunityWorks volunteer program and Grace Foundation; significant employee wellness resources including free access to onsite medical staff, exercise facilities and education programs; and ongoing efforts to reduce the company’s environmental footprint.

The award was presented at a recent community event that was attended by more than 300 people. Also at the ceremony, the publication unveiled a ranking of the recipients with Grace being named to the second spot.

“We are pleased to earn this award as it is confirmation of the caliber of our work across a wide spectrum of activities ranging from innovation to operations to outreach,” remarked Fred Festa, Grace’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I’d like to thank everyone that made this accomplishment possible.”

This award is the most recent for the company’s Maryland operations. Earlier this year, Grace was named one of the area’s Top 25 Places to Work by Baltimore Magazine and ranked as one of the Top 25 largest corporate philanthropists and Top 20 largest patent holders in Central Maryland by the Baltimore Business Journal. The company also received the Responsible Care® Energy Efficiency Award in May 2009 from the American Chemistry Council for its manufacturing operations in Maryland.

Around 1,100 people are employed by Grace at research and technical service centers, manufacturing facilities, warehouse operations and global headquarters in Baltimore (Curtis Bay), Elkridge and Columbia, Maryland.

Grace is a leading global supplier of catalysts and other products to petroleum refiners; catalysts for the manufacture of plastics; silica-based engineered and specialty materials for a wide range of industrial applications; sealants and coatings for food and beverage packaging, and specialty chemicals, additives and building materials for commercial and residential construction. Founded in 1854, Grace has operations in over 40 countries. For more information, visit Grace's web site at www.grace.com.

Source: W. R. Grace & Co.

W. R. Grace & Co.
Media Relations:
Andrea Greenan, +1 410-531-4391
andrea.greenan@grace.com