Blackstone River Valley

Blackstone Valley
Region of Massachusetts
A view of the Blackstone River in the Blackstone Valley of Massachusetts
Country	United States
State	Massachusetts

Blackstone Valley
The Blackstone Valley in Massachusetts and Rhode Island
Location	Massachusetts  Rhode Island
Long-axis direction	Northwest-Southeast
Geology
Type	River
Geography
Population centers	Worcester, Massachusetts, Providence, Rhode Island
Watercourses	Blackstone River

The Blackstone Valley or Blackstone River Valley is a region of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It was a major factor in the American Industrial Revolution. It makes up part of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor.

The Blackstone Valley has a varied economic base and is positioned to compete with the MetroWest region and the Greater Boston area for new economic development. A recent report commissioned by the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce provided evidence that the region has growth in the manufacturing, education, healthcare, and professional, scientific, and technical sectors. The valley is also accessible to highways and rail, cost competitive, and an educated workforce. Twelve major colleges are situated within thirty minutes of the Blackstone Valley, including Worcester Polytechnic Institute and Clark University.

The primary highway through the region is Worcestor–Providence Turnpike, which follows Massachusetts Route 146 and Rhode Island Route 146. The route was gradually upgraded mostly to freeway conditions, though two short sections (near the border of Lincoln and North Smithfield in Rhode Island and in Sutton, Massachusetts) still have at-grade intersections. Improvements to this important transportation corridor have provided an economic boon to the region.

The Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce is the local chamber of commerce for Worcester county and many of the cities and towns in the Blackstone Valley. The chamber represents the business needs of over 450 businesses and thousands of employees in the area.