GRANTS totalling more than £40,000 have helped to create more than 96 jobs in Darlington in the past six months.

The funding from Darlington Borough Council's financial incentive scheme has been paid to 35 companies to help them expand their businesses - and the authority says there is more money available.

The grants were paid to companies involved in a range of business activities, including advertising, promotion, property maintenance, food production, information technology support, tourism and manufacturing.

The scheme provides funds for marketing and promotion, site improvements, the purchase or improvement of industrial, warehouse and office buildings, investment in plant and machinery and investment in product development.

Projects must be based in Darlington and must be involved in manufacturing or the provision of an eligible service to a regional market. Job creation is an essential element of the scheme and proposals must be commercially viable.

Councillor David Lyonnette, the authority's cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "The council's financial incentive scheme has been extremely effective in recent years in helping small to medium-sized businesses expand and grow in Darlington."

Among the companies to benefit was Use Design, a business designing promotional and advertising material for companies in the service and manufacturing sectors.

It received a £2,000 grant towards start up costs in the Viewpoint Studio on the ninth floor of Northgate House.

Companies wishing to apply for grants can contact Mike Toyne, at Darlington Town Hall, on (01325) 388682.