BUSINESSES are being encouraged to set-up in shop in Horwich Town Centre — with a share of a £20,000 fund from Bolton Council up for grabs.

The authority is offering new businesses up to £5,000 each to take up vacant premises in the main shopping streets of Lee Lane and Winter Hey Lane.

The money can be put towards rents and business rates and will be offered primarily to local, independent and high quality ventures.

The funding will not be available to “ineligible businesses” such as sex shops, takeaways, pound shops, bookmakers, nail bars, pawnbrokers and estate agents.

The scheme is being financed from the £75,000 Horwich Town Centre Improvement Fund, which the council distributes in agreement with the six local ward councillors.

There is a total pot of £20,000 available and a maximum grant of £5,000 per business.

The idea is to help the town centre prosper in difficult economic times — with many businesses struggling to cope with the impact of the nearby Middlebrook retail park.

Bolton Council’s executive cabinet member for regeneration, Cllr Ebrahim Adia, said: “All of our district town centres are vital and we invest a dedicated pot of money into Horwich.

“The grant scheme is something the local Horwich councillors were keen to pursue, which I was happy to support.

“While Horwich already has some great independent retailers, town centres everywhere are struggling — the economic downturn, the rising popularity of online shopping and high rates and rents are all contributory factors.

He added: “The introduction of the grant scheme is one way for us to help support local Horwich businesses and I’d encourage anyone interested to get in touch with us.”

Ward councillors have also allocated other money from the Town Centre Improvement Fund towards making the area more attractive and accessible, including pavement repairs, new benches and flower displays.

Horwich and Blackrod councillor Stephen Pickup said: “Ward councillors representing Horwich and Blackrod and Horwich North East wards have allocated funding from monies set aside by Bolton Council to improve the town centres of the borough.

“One scheme for Horwich is to allocate grant funding to attract new businesses to vacant units in the town centre, as we seek to broaden the retail offer available and increase the viability of the central shopping area.”