BUSINESSES in Bury have been given a massive £8.3 million boost to help propel them towards prosperity.

The cash comes from the European Regional Development Fund towards the ambitious "Bury The Place for Business Action Plan", a five-year programme of support for local businesses.

Bury Strategic Partnership now has responsibility for implementation of the Plan to deliver support services and assistance for the provision of workspace units.

Bury Council is responsible for its day to day management. Small and medium-sized businesses are eligible for support.

Support is available for new business starts and covers a wide range of support activity such as business counselling and consultancy, business plan appraisal, mentoring, management and human resource development, technology awareness and e-commerce development, but not for profit start-ups.

Help is also available for the provision of premises for new and expanding businesses, including starter units and managed workspaces, specialist business accommodation on science and technology parks, business incubator units, refurbishment of derelict buildings and premises and technology transfer facilities.

Public, private and voluntary sector bodies may submit projects under both headings. But where the applicant is a profit-making private body, it would be expected to demonstrate the justification for grant assistance.

For new business support, grants can contribute up to 50 per cent of costs and for business premises the maximum rate is 30 per cent. The balance of funding may come from public or private sources.

For more information call Hilary Sayers at the local authority's economic development unit on 253 6040.