National Press Release

Business Plan Submissions Will be Accepted until March 11

DEARBORN, Mich., March 3 /PRNewswire/ --

    WHAT:    Continuing its long-standing tradition of promoting education
             and the entrepreneurial spirit, Ford announced today the
             extension of the its 2009 HBCU Business Classic. The annual
             business plan competition is open to students who attend
             Historically Black Colleges and Universities and offers
             $100,000 in scholarship prizes. The new deadline for student
             submissions is Wednesday, March 11, 2009.

             To enter the competition, students, individuals or teams of two
             to five, along with a faculty advisor, must submit a 10-page
             business plan via the Ford HBCU Business Classic Website at
             www.fordhbcu.com. The plans must include several key elements,
             including type of business; product or service; pricing
             considerations; target market and competition and general
             operations.

             On April 17, 2009, five finalists will be flown to Atlanta to
             present their plans to the Ford team and celebrity judges.  The
             team who wins the Grand Prize will receive $35,000 in personal
             scholarship funds and $15,000 for their HBCU, courtesy of Ford.
             The first runner-up team will receive $20,000 in scholarship
             funds and $10,000 for their school; the second-place team will
             receive $15,000 in scholarship funds and $5,000 for their school.

    WHO:     Undergraduate and graduate students currently enrolled full
             or part time at a Historically Black College and University
             (HBCU) may apply. Students can visit www.fordhbcu.com to submit
             their plans or for additional contest information.

    WHEN:    Ford 2009 HBCU Business Classic Submission Deadline
             March 11, 2009
             www.fordhbcu.com

Commitment to Education

For more than 40 years, Ford Motor Company has been a major supporter of the hopes and dreams of HBCU students. In the last six years alone, Ford has donated over $10 million to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

SOURCE Ford