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Annual Work Plan 2006 - 2007

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is the state-designated tourism planning and development agency for Central Falls, Pawtucket, Woonsocket, Cumberland, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Smithfield, Burrillville and Glocester, Rhode Island.

The Tourism Council serves Rhode Island and the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor communities with sustainable Geo-tourism programs and policies that support residents, and enhance the character, environment, culture, heritage, aesthetics and businesses of the Valley.

General Programs and Projects

• Operate the M/V Blackstone Valley Explorer in Central Falls and Woonsocket
• Provide handicapped accessibility in Waterfire on the Spirit of the Blackstone
• Operate the Canal Boat Samuel Slater as a Bed and Breakfast and for river tours in Central Falls
• Operate the Easter Bunny Express on the Providence and Worcester Railroad
• Manage the Blackstone Valley Heritage Golf Tournament
• Operate the Blackstone Valley Scenic Railway Fall Foliage Excursion to Putnam CT with Providence and Worcester Railroad
• Operate the Blackstone Valley Polar Express for 8 to 12 trips in November
• Coordinate the Blackstone Valley Annual Dinner Auction at Kirkbrae Country Club in September
• Operate the 12 passenger Blackstone Valley Shuttle
• Manage the Footsteps in History Event using the resources from Preserve America
• Continue the Blackstone Valley Tourism Network
• Manage the Rhode Island Chinese Dragon Boat Festival and Taiwan Day Festival
• Assist in the production of the Colombian Independence Day Festival
• Rhode Island Rivers Day celebration in conjunction with RiverSing on the Blackstone
• Continue to offer for sale advertising in the back-lit displays at the Visitor Center
• Continue to work with all Higher Education institutions seeking internship opportunities
• Continue to work with Universities of higher education in the education of students in tourism planning and development
• Present the 18th Annual Travel Experiences Trade Show at Wrights Farm
• Develop further the Blackstone Valley Elderhostel program
• Continue to develop the Canoe Trail for the Blackstone Valley
• Continue to support tourism development programs in Pawtucket, Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Smithfield and Woonsocket
• Work with RI Committee on Agricultural Promotion to further the efforts of Blackstone Valley Agricultural sites
• Chair the Tour Rhode Island' There's No Place Like Home event
• Collaborate with all agencies federal, state, local, nonprofit or for profit for the benefit of the communities of the Blackstone Valley
• Participate in conferences and educational opportunities that benefit the mission of the Council and educate the staff to better serve the Blackstone Valley
• Continue to develop the promotional public relations programs for the Blackstone Valley
• Develop additional educational programs for the Blackstone Valley Explorer
• Continue the work with the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission with projects that require NGO assistance
• Work closely with the City of Central Falls to move the Central Falls Landing project to completion
• Work with the City of Central Falls to insure repair of the Landing Docks
• Continue the work with RIDOT and the local communities in the design and construction of Manville Landing, Lincoln Landing, Pawtucket Landing, Woonsocket Landing to complete the Blackstone River and Canal Navigation and Transportation System
  New Programs and Projects
• Develop a Manufacturers Tour of the Blackstone Valley, in collaboration with RIEDC & NRICOC
• Create the Forest City Blackstone Valley Cajun Music Festival
• Develop the Sustainable Tourism Planning and Development Laboratory
• Work with the Providence Piers Company to retrieve the income owed on the M/V Hope
• Work to create the Blackstone Valley Historic/Cultural and Artistic Site Network
• Develop a conference to understand the flood situations along the Blackstone River so as to mitigate future damage
• Develop the Keep America Beautiful program for the Blackstone Valley working with the VISTA program
• Produce and promote the International Restaurant Brochure in conjunction with the RI Foundation, DiningQuest, the SBA, Bryant College and Verizon, for authentic markets, bakeries and restaurants of the Blackstone Valley
• Working with JWU MBA students to create a history of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
• Complete the 20th Year financial audit for the Tourism Council
• Develop a debt-reduction program for Long-term debt
• Dispose of surplus property
• Pilot new Dunn Foundation View Finders program to Blackstone Valley school teachers
• Develop new education programs to encompass the vital river ecosystem and history such as the Blackstone Valley Eco-lab Discovery Program
• Develop interpretive programs that will engage and educate the general public about the historic, natural and cultural resources in the Valley working with partners such as RI Audubon Society to develop new and innovative experiences aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer
• Develop the “Little Engine that Could” program with the Blackstone Valley Scenic Railroad program
• Work with Providence and Worcester Railroad on means to insure wheel chair accessibility aboard the BV Scenic Railroad tours
• Work with the Town of Cumberland in the selling of their publication: Cumberland by the Blackstone
• Develop a George Washington University like “Voluntourism” program for the Blackstone Valley focusing on farm experiences for visitors
  Marketing
• Work in conjunction with the State of Rhode Island and the regional tourism district managers, to promote Rhode Island as a destination
• Work in conjunction with the Blackstone Valley National Heritage Corridor and the Blackstone Valley Chamber Visitor Bureau to promote the Blackstone Valley as a destination
• Attend the National Tour Association and American Bus Association Trade Exchanges and other appropriate Travel Shows
• Work with the Valley Breeze in the production of the Official Blackstone Valley Visitor Guide
• Work with the Navigator Publication in the production of the Officials Blackstone Valley Map
• Build the “Partners in Distance Learning” program to export the Blackstone Valley using teleconference ability
• Update Tour Blackstone.com Website
• Re-design Website for Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
• Work with Lincoln Park with partnerships to further Blackstone Valley tourism marketing
• Work to promote interest in the Sustainable Destination Tourism Development Laboratory
• Develop monthly newsletter
• Update Event Calendar
• Create a digital photo archive

International Programs

• Continue the international development of partnerships with England, Brazil, Taiwan and China and Canada
• Work with Discover New England to promote New England as a destination to foreign visitors
  Tourism Research
• Work with the Travel Industry Association of America in the economic study of the Blackstone Valley's tourism impacts

Front-line Visitor Service Programs

• Continue management of the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center in Pawtucket
• Coordinate the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Visitor Services at the Blackstone River Visitor Center on I-295 Visitor Center
• Continue the distribution program of Blackstone Valley tourism literature to local outlets

GeoTourism Planning

• Complete development on the Central Falls Riverfront Plan
• Update the 1992 Blackstone Valley Comprehensive Regional Tourism Plan
• Work to develop the Rhode Island Sustainable Tourism Planning Project
• Develop the Blackstone River Science and Exploration Center
• Adopt George Washington University's S.A.V.E concept based on the Geotourism principles developed by National Geographic Society: Scientific, Academic, Experiential and Educational tourism markets to create wealth while conserving natural resources and stimulating culture in the Blackstone Valley, as they build upon the Council's Elderhostel and Riverclassroom programs
• Continue to investigate possibilities with the National Geographic Society to develop of a MapGuide to highlight the natural, historic and cultural assets of the Blackstone Valley
• Work with the National Geographic Society on signing a GeoTourism Charter, as a first step in adopting a GeoTourism strategy
• Develop the World Tourism Organization's VolunTourism concept with opportunities for this program specifically in agricultural tourism locations
• Continue discussions with the World Tourism Organization to seek their WTO.Sbest certification for Excellence in Destination Management

Legislative Actions

• Work in collaboration with RI tourism districts to maintain current form of tourism district management that supports local community input in decision-making
• Work in collaboration with Federal, state and local officials to secure reauthorization of the JHCBRVNHCC
• Contract a government affairs agent, using private funds, to assist in matters relating to state legislative affairs

Headquarters Operations

• Continue the upgrade of office technology

Personnel

• Review benefits and retirement package for the staff of the Tourism Council

Under Consideration

• Continue to operate or seek a buyer for the M/V Spirit of the Blackstone Valley