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OVER £100,000 of funding is to be made available for small to medium businesses in the Carnforth area to encourage expansion.

The funding is jointly provided by Lancashire County Council's economic development company Lancashire County Developments Ltd (LCDL) and the North West Regional Development Agency through the Market Towns Initiative run by the Carnforth Area Regeneration Partnership. LCDL will administer the funds that will enable companies to expand their business.

The funding can help to fund capital and revenue expenditure such as new machinery or equipment, new or upgraded business premises, staff training, advertising, websites and much more.

Small and medium sized enterprises within Carnforth's ten parishes are eligible for the grants. The fund is open now and will accept new applications until 31 August 2007.

There is no specific upper limit to how much can be applied for, and grants can typically be made available up to a maximum of 40% of total project costs.

Lancashire County Councilor Niki Penney, Chair of LCDL, said: "Helping companies in the Carnforth area in this way will enable them to expand their business and bring more investment and jobs into these parishes.

"LCDL specialises in funding that allows companies to grow which helps bring investment into all areas of the county and helps improve people's lives."

For more information on applying for a grant please contact the Programme Manager, Ed Hughes on (01772) 551888 or email ehughes@lcdl.co.uk

The ten parishes eligible for funding are:

Carnforth

Kellet (Priest Hutton, Borwick, Over Kellet, Nether Kellet, Arkholme with Cawood)

Bolton-le-Sands

Warton

Silverdale (Silverdale, Yealand Conyers, Yealand Redmayne)

Burton and Holme (Holme, Burton in Kendal)

Upper Lune Valley (Whittington, Burrow with Burrow, Leck, Tunstall, Cantsfield, Melling with Wrayton, Gressingham, Hornby with Farleton)

Halton with Aughton

Slyne with Hest

Arnside and Beetham

Tue 05 June 2007