Since its beginning, the Tourism Council has worked to develop, promote and expand the economic and community development base for the cities and towns in Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley to create a viable visitor and cultural destination, while continually working to improve the region’s quality of life, environment, recreational uses, and preserving the region’s historic heritage. The Tourism Council has initiated many exciting, challenging, innovative and inventive projects and programs to meet and exceed its mission. The Council works closely with public and private partnerships, works as an interpreter and educator of the history and ecology of the Blackstone River, initiates ongoing international relationships of major importance to the region, works closely on community development projects with cities and towns, provides input on future riverfront and economic development, and develops various recreational activities.

The Council operates on the philosophy that sustained economic development in the region must rely on sustained historical preservation and environmental protection. To that end, the Council has promoted the region to residents and visitors through tourism development of the region’s rich “farms to factories” heritage, cultural diversity, and ecotourism.

The Blackstone River Valley has significant importance to the United States and Rhode Island in that the region is the actual birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution that began in 1790 in Pawtucket Rhode Island when Samuel Slater began textile manufacturing in Pawtucket in a wooden mill on the banks of the Blackstone River.

Through its visionary mission, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council operates on the philosophy of taking a positive leadership role in initiating many exciting, challenging, innovative and inventive tourism development products, projects and programs.