City Of East Providence Embarks On Tourism Promotion Joins the Blackstone Valley's campaign

East Providence, R.I. (January 6, 2022): East Providence is embarking on a tourism campaign, boosted by escrowed funds accrued from hotel taxes collected by the City over the past six years.

The R.I. General Assembly and the East Providence City Council approved legislation last year for the City to join the efforts of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, making it one of ten communities in Northern Rhode Island to be part of the Council's regional tourism development. The 10 communities are Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, East Providence, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield, and Woonsocket known as Rhode Island’s Blackstone River Valley.

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council has teamed up to collaborate on this campaign with East Providence Mayor Roberto DaSilva, Planning & Economic Development Department staff led by Director William Fazioli and Chief Economic Planner Jim Moran, and East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Laura McNamara. The East Providence-based public relations firm of Newberry Public Relations and Marketing, Inc. has been engaged to assist in this new initiative.

“We could not be more pleased to welcome East Providence to our Council’s efforts and are most honored to be working together,” states Blackstone Valley Tourism Council President and CEO Robert Billington. “Our goal is to bring East Providence to a higher level of public awareness and visitation as we reveal the City’s attributes. The East Bay Bike Path, the waterfront, great restaurants, history, art and culture, are what give the City its identity. We will work to give East Providence a well-deserved place of prominence in Rhode Island's tourism portfolio.”

Initial plans call for identifying and building an inventory of destination assets throughout the City such as the Crescent Park Looff Carousel, Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, and Heritage Days Festival; the development of wayfinding and welcome signage; and creating and increasing its online presence that is tourism-focused.

“This is an opportunity to position East Providence as a viable tourism destination in the State of Rhode Island,” notes Mayor DaSilva. “Our efforts will be focused on residents as well as visitors because it’s important to balance sustainable tourism with the people who live and work here. We look forward to supporting this exciting initiative and to spotlight our City’s hallmark features that we all can enjoy and be proud of year-round.”


Established in 1985, the award-winning Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is a regional tourism office encompassing a 240-mile region in the northern part of Rhode Island. It encompasses the cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, East Providence and Woonsocket, and the towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, Burrillville, Glocester, Smithfield, and North Smithfield. Thanks to the Council’s many partners and collaborators, the Blackstone Valley is considered one of Rhode Island’s most significant visitor destinations – a region where communities have become attractive places to live, work and visit. The Blackstone Valley is a major arts destination, a place to relive our country’s great industrial heritage, and home to many dining establishments, parks and open spaces, waterways, bike paths, recreational facilities, and cultural and historic attractions. The Council is headquartered in a Visitor Center located at 175 Main Street in Pawtucket, RI, featuring a giant floor map showing the entire Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor, museum-style exhibits and a free 20-minute movie covering the history of Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park. Websites: www.BlackstoneValleyTourismCouncil.org and www.TourBlackstone.com; Phone: 401-724-2200.