BUSINESSES and communities in central Nelson and Brierfield will benefit from £84,000 of Single Regeneration Budget cash during a three-year project to develop technology and Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills.

The e-Envoy project -- which will be run by the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and funded through Pendle Partnership -- will show local people the electronic opportunities available and how to access them.

It will also take an overview of the progress that has been made in Pendle in the past in terms of e-Government, e-commerce, e-learning and e-Community.

Following the overview, the e-Envoy will identify any gaps with a view to developing a comprehensive strategy.

Pendle Council is currently preparing a bid for Government funding to help introduce e-Government in Pendle and Nelson and Colne College and Pendle Training have become involved in certain elements of the e-Learning agenda.

Lancashire County Council has recently provided computers in local libraries to contribute to the development of e-Community and Pendle Council's regeneration unit is undertaking some preliminary work in this area.

Businesses will benefit from the knowledge and opportunities to trade on the internet and the e-Envoy will work closely with Pendle's new community and voluntary sector network to ensure the strategy meets the needs of the local community.

Mike Caulfield, project manager, said: "The e-Envoy project will enable local businesses and communities to take advantage of new technology. It will help create a competitive economy that will build the skills of community groups and assist in social inclusion."