June 20, 2006
For Immediate Release

Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation Launches New Web Site for Educators

40 Partners Offer Curriculum-based Programs

Whitinsville, MA. The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, with the support of the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, launched an enhanced interactive web site this week. The site, found at www.blackstoneeducators.net, contains An Educator's Guide to the Blackstone Valley incorporating comprehensive information from 40 partner sites that offer curriculum-based programs to tell the story of America's Industrial Revolution. An interactive map and a search engine facilitate information gathering and planning for New England educators.

"We designed this web site to be a highly functional tool for educators who recognize the unique opportunities that teaching in the Blackstone River Valley can bring to their classrooms. It is basically "one stop shopping" for teachers who want to share the Valley's story, who want to demonstrate environmental impacts and success stories, and who want to tap the Blackstone Valley's rich cultural heritage for their students' benefit," Mary Lou Anderson, Project Manger, explained.

According to Ranger Kevin Klyberg at the Heritage Corridor, the web site focuses on those destinations that offer curriculum based programs that tie into the state frameworks for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. "This site makes it easy for teachers to access the resources that the Blackstone River Valley offers - from Worcester to Providence - that can enhance and enrich the educational experience through either field trips or classroom visits," he added.

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor contains over 10,000 identified heritage sites within its 400,000 acres. Not every site or community has the resources to offer a curriculum-based program and the web site developers acknowledge that there is plentiful opportunity for educators to supplement the programs they find through the web site with visits to historic buildings, museums and sites interspersed throughout the National Heritage Corridor.

"Getting students out to see, feel and understand how and where our history actually happened is an integral part of the future of the Corridor," Acting Director Thomas E. Ross said. "We expect this web site to increase those opportunities and for more students to be on their way to developing a better sense of why the Blackstone River Valley has a unique story that we are fortunate to be able to share with others."

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About the Education Foundation

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, Inc. is the not-for-profit umbrella organization for all Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce school-business related activities and cultural programs. Our Mission: To lead and support education that promotes workforce development and enhances the quality of life in the Blackstone Valley.

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About The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor was designated by Congress in 1986 as the birthplace of America's industrial revolution. The 24 communities along the 46-mile Blackstone River are located between Worcester, Massachusetts and Providence, Rhode Island. Congress voted to reauthorize the Corridor's Commission for an additional five years on Friday, September 29, 2006. For more information about the Corridor, visit www.nps.gov/blac/.

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About the Chamber

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce serves the Blackstone River Valley's eleven member towns in Massachusetts: Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton, and Uxbridge. The mission of the chamber is to promote the economic vitality of the Blackstone Valley, meet the needs of the Chamber's business members, while providing leadership on issues which impact the economy and quality of life in the Valley.