There are a couple different projects going on to try to breed in blight-resistance.
One is this transgenic approach. http://www.esf.edu/communications/view.asp?newsID=3062
I'm not really fond of transgenics, but, hey....
Another is a classic back-crossing approach.
http://www.acf.org/r_r.php
http://www.acf.org/mission_history.php
These folks sell a cross-breed tree
http://www.chestnuthilltreefarm.com/store/c/31-Dunstan-Chestnut-Trees.aspx

A friend here in Maine has a couple chestnut trees in his front yard - they bear well even though they are only about 15-20 feet high. Tasty, too. I told him to put a couple leaves and nuts in an envelope, stop by the local government forester's office and drop them off with no return address, just to mess with the guy.

Surprisingly, the squirrels leave them alone. They may have forgotten they're good to eat.

fiery, dependable, occasionally transcendent