Vermont ski resorts spending in the off season

RUTLAND, Vt. – Ski resorts from one end of Vermont to the other are spending tens of millions of dollars in the off season on capital improvements designed to bring more people to the slopes this winter and into the future.

Jay Peak is undertaking a $140 million expansion project near the Canadian border and Mount Snow in southern Vermont, is planning to spend $25 million.

Other resorts are investing on projects ranging from new hotels to expanded snowmaking systems.

Parker Riehle of the Vermont Ski Areas Association tells the Rutland Herald the investments are impressive given the weak economy.

And Riehle says the investments help throughout the economy by providing jobs and other financial benefits.