ELLENVILLE – The principal of the investment company which hopes to revitalize the Nevele Resort via casino gaming has been traveling around the area to drum up support. The next stop for Michael Treanor of Nevele Investors LLC will be a breakfast on April 12 with the Rondout Valley Business Association (RVBA) and other business organizations.

"We're confident that the Nevele is the right thing for us and for casino gaming in New York State," Treanor said in a recent telephone call.

In early February, Treanor and his company Claremont Investments LLC won the right in court to purchase the aging resort with a plan to reopen it as a family resort that also offers casino gaming. He sees the Nevele as ripe for revitalization, and is predicting it will raise the economy of Ellenville and Wawarsing as well. Treanor has estimated that a family destination resort at the Nevele could bring upwards of 1,000 to 2,000 jobs to the area.

Richard Travers, president of the RVBA, is just as optimistic. He can't wait to see the Nevele turn into what he calls a "world-class family resort" with amenities like skiing, hiking, horseback riding, swimming and ice skating.

The association has gone as far as to start posting signs around the area welcoming back the Nevele.

"We invite the businesses in the Rondout Valley to visit and listen to Michael Treanor," Travers said.

The RVBA is working jointly with the Ellenville Chamber of Commerce, the Rosendale Chamber of Commerce, and the Rondout Valley Growers Association in their effort to "Welcome the Nevele back," as their signs read. It is only with the support of the local businesses that the Nevele will succeed, Travers remarked. With 225 member businesses, the RVBA is uniquely situated to offer help in spreading support. In return, Travers said, a revitalized Nevele would benefit many businesses in the Rondout Valley.

"The services the Nevele will use have to come from somewhere," Travers said. "It will need food, beverages, equipment... There will be a great number of ancillary jobs created in order to support that, and a great proportion of them would be around the Rondout Valley."

The Rondout Valley was once a hotspot for vacationers. It will be again, Travers said, beginning with the Nevele.

"Returning the Nevele to its former state is helping grow the economy and creating a destination," he said.

Treanor, meanwhile, has been lobbying state legislators and Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office to encourage approval of non-Indian gaming in the state. Last week he attended what he called an "all-hands kick-off meeting" at the Ulster County planning office. He met with lawyers, engineers and other professionals to begin pre-development work. In addition to the legal end of the project, Treanor wants to focus on the business end as well.

"The idea is to form a group of business leaders who will make our case in Albany about the positive economic impact this will have," Treanor said. "We'll present to the community, allow questions and use the feedback to help create our project."

Treanor hopes to close on the property before the April 12 meeting. There are two issues slowing down the process, he said: another $1 million, unknown previously, has turned up that is owed to creditors; and there is an issue with easements on the property.

"We're trying to close as soon as possible," he said.

The breakfast buffet and presentation begins at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 12 at the White Wolf Restaurant on Route 209 in Wawarsing. Seating is limited to 120 people. Reservations and pre-payment are required — call the RVBA at 845-687-4567 for more information.