Despite the rising swirl of questions about his economic development programs, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced another $500 million for projects in Western New York during the Buffalo leg of his State of the State tour on Monday.

He used statistics, at times exaggerated, to paint a rosy picture of the region’s economy and claimed his own focus and a $1 billion state investment were responsible for it. The strong rhetoric continues the offensive strategy that the Democratic governor employed in September after Kaloyeros and Joe Percoco — the governor’s political adviser and surrogate brother — were charged.

“It was a billion dollars. Why a billion? A billion to say to people this isn’t just another plan, and I’m not just another politician with another plan. … I said, we need something to really capture people’s attention because they have to believe it’s going to work if it’s actually going to work,” Cuomo said. “Not only did it rhyme, billion is a serious number.”

Cuomo called the new program BB2, because “There’s a synergy between the two of them that will be exponential, that’s why it will be Buffalo Billion squared.” He did not mention the arrests, which included the developers of a solar panel factory at the center of the Buffalo Billion.

But unlike the first program announced in 2012, the exponential twin is receiving a more skeptical reception. Republican state chairman Ed Cox traveled to the Queen City and denounced Cuomo’s economic development policies outside the university auditorium in which the governor spoke.

“Governor Cuomo’s administration is embroiled in corruption, pay-to-play, and failed political gimmicks,” Cox stated. “This year’s magical media tour is designed to distract, but the reality is clear. The governor can run but he can’t hide from his failed attempt to bribe the Legislature or his corrupt record.”

Two hecklers, one of whom yelled “traitor” and wore a gun rights tee-shirt, interrupted the governor’s speech despite extreme caution by state operatives to ensure only the most devout supporters were admitted to the audience.

Senate Republican Leader John Flanagan, whose conference has been generally supportive of the governor’s development subsidies, issued a cautious statement that also tsk-tsked Cuomo for moving the State of the State from the Capitol to the road.

“I hope the Governor will join us in supporting a real jobs plan that provides new opportunities for workers and eases regulatory burdens so businesses can succeed and grow,” Flanagan said. “The governor has chosen to roll out his agenda the way he wants to this year. However, the last thing hardworking, middle-class New Yorkers need right now are flashy press releases, lofty pronouncements, or more broken promises. They need real solutions. And, they need our help.”

Cuomo offered no details about how he would pay for the investments. The state faces a budget gap of at least $3.5 billion — of which the administration says $2.8 billion will be closed by as-yet-unspecified spending restraint.

Local officials cheered the renderings of Cuomo’s plan, as well as his latest call to allow ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft to operate outside of New York City.

The official plan was wide-ranging, and includes everything from $10 million for a downtown redevelopment competition, the expansion of parkland near Niagara Falls, extension of Buffalo’s light rail north into Amherst, a new industrial park on the site of an abandoned steel mill, a new tourist welcome center on Grand Island and a “blue way” to increase dockage along Lake Erie.

Here is a press release on the plan: http://on.ny.gov/2iWzk2q

Here is a video of the Buffalo speech: http://bit.ly/2iWxmiz

And here is a transcript of the address: http://politi.co/2iWzPJx