Funds to boost business economy

More than £1.5m is to be invested into the economy across west Suffolk over the next few years, St Edmundsbury Borough Council has announced.

The funds are from the government's Business Growth Incentive Scheme and from the council's sale of a business centre in Bury St Edmunds.

Investments will include a £100,000 training fund to help business growth.

The town of Bury St Edmunds will receive an extra £60,000 for promotion and Haverhill receives £25,000.

A further £70,000 will be used for training initiatives to address difficulties faced by businesses, including advice for people made redundant or starting a new business.

Councillor Nigel Aitkens, St Edmundsbury Borough Council cabinet member for economy, said: "Now that it is becoming more apparent how businesses will be affected by the current economic conditions, we are allocating the funding to support as broad a range of enterprises as possible."

He said the aim was to "maintain a thriving and vibrant economy throughout these difficult times".