BUSINESSES across three East Lancashire boroughs can now secure grants from a £1million pot to expand and develop new technologies.

Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale councils and Growth Lancashire are to receive £994,083 from the UK Community Renewal Fund.

It is hoped the programme will create 100 new jobs and safeguard a further 50.

The funding will be available until June next year.

The focus of the grant fund will be to provide direct access to finance to support innovation, business growth and job creation whilst safeguarding existing jobs, with special focus on high-value jobs within engineering and manufacturing.

Burnley Council leader Councillor Afrasiab Anwar said: “I’m very pleased that by working together in partnership we’ve been able to successfully apply for this Government funding which will be used to boost local businesses. It will provide welcome support for firms of all sizes and help enable them to expand and develop.”

Leader of Pendle Council, Councillor Nadeem Ahmed said: “This is great news for our area, which has been really hard hit by the pandemic.

“We have many enterprising companies in Pendle which could really benefit from this new funding. It will help to protect and create new jobs and boost businesses keen to expand and take advantage of new innovations.”

Alyson Barnes, leader of Rossendale Council, said: “We are pleased that working with Burnley and Pendle councils we have successfully secured Community Renewal Funding to support the growth and innovation of businesses in Rossendale. The increased investment will create at least 30 new jobs and safeguarding 20 jobs in our borough.”

Chairman of Growth Lancashire, Tim Webber, said: “I am delighted that Growth Lancashire will be working closely with Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale councils in the delivery of this programme, and will be supplementing the great support that the Growth Hub provides to Lancashire businesses."