The Heritage Corridor Commission supports projects throughout the Blackstone River Valley by providing funding through our Heritage Partnership Program.  In 2006  $498,000 was awarded to the Corridor Commission through the National Park Service’s federal appropriations. These funds are critical to telling the national story of the Blackstone.

The projects and programs funded in FY2006 help to support the Corridor's goals of historic preservation, community revitalization, ecological restoration, land use planning, riverway development and educating people about the Valley’s heritage.

All 24 Corridor communities from Providence, RI to Worcester, MA will benefit from the funds provided to enhance the Blackstone Valley. Region-wide projects such as tourism marketing and development, special events and festivals, hospitality training, Riverway restoration and development and educational programming reach everyone.

The following projects were approved by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission on February 23, 2006:

Franklin Farm, Cumberland, RI

Historic Preservation:

Heritage Corridor “Blackstone Canal Symposium,” $13,000: to conduct a two day public symposium on the Blackstone Canal and transportation revolution.
 

Massachusetts Canal Communities, Massachusetts DCR, “Preservation of Recommended sections of the Blackstone Canal in MA,” $65,000: to advance the preservation of recommendations outlined in the Blackstone Canal Preservation Study which identified key sites along the canal for preservation.

Town of Cumberland, RI “Franklin Farm: Preservation Master Plan and National Register Nomination,” $5,000: to fund a feasibility study, conditions assessment, treatment recommendations and a strategy for stabilization.

Daniels Farm Foundation, “Daniels Farm, Blackstone, MA: Construction Documents for stabilization/preservation of Main House,” $5,000: to assist in funding construction documents to focus on stabilization / preservation work identified as “high priority” in the Historic Structure Condition Assessment prepared by the NPS Architectural Preservation Division

Inspecting the Millbury Electric Dam

Riverway/Greenway:

Mass Audubon, “Millbury Dam Removal Feasibility Study”, $12,000: matching funding to undertake a feasibility study for the removal of the Millbury Dam, which is slowly rotting and received heightened awareness during and after the October 05 floods.

ZAP the Blackstone, “Implementing the Fishable/Swimmable Campaign,” $15,000; Support the work of the Blackstone River Coalition.

Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, “Flood Impacts Visualized,” $10,000: to produce an interactive map to show the flooding that occurred in October 2005 as well as flooding at different stages and to provide for a public forum to present the project.

Blackstone Valley Paddle Club, “Paddle Club,” $10,000: to support the self-sustainability of a partner managed paddle club in 2006.

Corridor Keepers, “2006 Greenway Challenge,” $25,000: to support the recreational event this promotes awareness and support for environmental projects, river, bikeway and historic sites along the route.

Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Metacomet Land Trust and Blackstone River Coalition, “Riverway Land Protection,” $50,000: to move forward in securing priority properties necessary to complete river access planning and properties associated with preservation of the Blackstone Canal.

Tourism:

BV Chamber of Commerce and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, “Tourism Campaign VI,” $45,000: to support bi-state tourism marketing and promotion of the Heritage Corridor.

BV Chamber of Commerce and Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, “Distribution and Calendar of Events,” $25,000: to support the development of a Calendar of Events and the distribution of marketing collateral across the valley.

Plan for Northern Gateway Visitor Center Worcester, MA

Interpretation and Education:

City of Worcester, Worcester Historical Museum, Greater Worcester County CVB, “Northern Gateway Visitor Center exhibits,” $100,000: to support the on-going development of the Northern Gateway Visitor Center, particularly to fund the development of exhibits in the facility.

Blackstone River Theatre, “Sustainability & Expansion of the Theatre Programming,” $15,000: support for programming in music, dance and folk arts traditions.

Worcester Historical Museum, “Industrial History of the Blackstone Valley,” $10,000: to produce a comprehensive historical book on the Blackstone Valley.

“Environmental Education Programming,” $7,500: to support the offering of environmental education programs.

Connectors:

Heritage Corridor “Communication and Public Outreach Strategy,” $10,000: Public outreach and promotion of events throughout 2006.

Heritage Corridor “Sign Program,” $25,000: to cover a portion of the high priority projects on the sign program list throughout the Blackstone Valley. Heritage Corridor

“Footsteps in History: Associated Training Element,” $10,000: to provide a training component that is an aspect of networking programs among sites leading up to and benefiting the presentation of Footsteps.

Heritage Corridor “Blackstone Valley Virtual Library,” $5,000: to work with a university partner to pursue the best method of collecting reports, projects, research and other materials and present them via the web.

Heritage Corridor “Special Events,” $7,500: support community and non-profit organization events that promote Corridor’s goals.

Heritage Corridor “Blackstone Valley Academic Trust,” $10,000: to support the goal of integrating the Blackstone Valley colleges and universities efforts with the goals of the Corridor Commission.

City of Worcester “Worcester Projects Publication,: $10,000: to develop a publication that will express the nature and scope of the related projects in Worcester, promoting the connections between them.

Heritage Corridor Annual Report, $8,000

Heritage Corridor Annual Dinner, $10,000