Alaska marketplace donations spark success.(APPLAUSE)

ConocoPhillips recently donated $100,000 to the Alaska Marketplace program. The investment follows on the heels of a $200,000 donation made to the program by BP last fall. In all, more than $700,000 has been raised to support start-up funding and award money for the program.

The Alaska Marketplace is a program for Alaskans with innovative ideas on how to create jobs and stimulate economic development in rural village economies. More than 150 business proposals came from across Alaska. Two-thirds of the total applicants were women, with 68 percent of the applications submitted by Alaska Natives.

"We are excited to be part of this innovative economic development effort in Alaska," said Jim Bowles, president of ConocoPhillips. "Our philosophy is to support community development and job creation. The Alaska Marketplace represents the best of those ideals."

Alaska's innovators who appeared at the recent rewards ceremony all received prize money after Al Bolea, president of BP Pipelines and co-chair of the Alaska Marketplace jury, announced BP would more than double the prize pot to $500,000.

Winners are listed www.alaskamarketplace.org.

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