The Daily Freeman reports that New York state just announced $9.1 million for the expansion and modernization of the Discovery Lodge at Belleayre Mountain Ski Center in Ulster County. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office announced the handout just before the November election, and Cuomo said, in a press release, that the state has invested more than $30 million in the ski area since 2011. Greene County officials are often critical of state aid for Belleayre, seeing it as a rival to ski resorts in Hunter and Windham. But Legislative Chairman Kevin Lewis was quoted in the press release saying, "The Catskills are a historic tourist destination nationwide and today's investment will help bring one of the area's premier resorts into the 21st century. I thank Governor Cuomo for this investment that will lead to increased visitation in the Catskills, job growth, and overall economic progress." Read the full story in The Daily Freeman. Greene County historically has been critical of state operation of Belleayre, which is in Ulster County and seen as competing with the privately owned Hunter Mountain ski area, which is in Greene County. The state release noted the following statistics related to the growth of Belleayre Mountain since 2017: • Winter visits increased 28 percent to 140,815; • Winter sales revenue from snow sports and activities at the resort increased by more than 21 percent to $5.4 million; • 2018 summer visitation increased year-over-year by over 10,000 guests; and • 2018-19 preseason sales are currently running at a record level of 56 percent over last year.