AN organisation formed to represent the businesses of upper Teesdale has been awarded a fighting fund grant to enable members to collectively promote the area, which was devastated by foot-and-mouth.

The £12,500 was made available to Upper Teesdale Business Forum (UTBF) through the British Hospitality Association, from the small business service's Phoenix development fund for rural regeneration.

It is not ring fenced, leaving the forum free to spend it on projects that can include marketing, advertising, training, sponsorship or whatever else is deemed suitable. The cash is seen as a magnet to attract other funding or to use for match funding if necessary, which will multiply the original amount.

Membership of the forum is open to all businesses based in the upper dale area, including Baldersdale and Lunedale, and all are welcome to add their voice and take part. A steering group, headed by Nigel Mitchell, will get the project off the ground and co-operative links have been established with Teesdale Marketing.

At a meeting last week, leading travel trade expert, Martin Evans, addressed the steering group, to advise how visitors might be encouraged into the upper dale. He is to report back early in the new year with some further proposals.

In a bid to introduce the project to the wider business community, a social event has been arranged for Monday, December 16, from 7-9.30, at Norman Richardson House in Middleton in Teesdale. It will be possible to view the UTBF web site, which is under development, and members of the steering group will be on hand to explain the project and what has happened so far. All businesses will be made welcome, when wine, coffee and mince pies will be served. Those unable to attend can ring 01833 640467 for further information.

*Teesdale Marketing's highly successful campaign to attract more members took a significant step forward this week with the announcement that the recently formed UTBF was to become affiliated to it. The announcement sees the combined group number more than 70 businesses as members.

"This is great news for Teesdale businesses and the local economy," said Teesdale Marketing director, Chris Dauber. "Under this agreement, both groups will retain their individual identity, but will work together with funding organisations to deliver real and tangible economic benefits for the whole of the dale.

"I am delighted that the business sector in upper Teesdale now has its own voice and that they have chosen to work with Teesdale Marketing. This joint initiative will deliver what the people of the dale demanded during the recent "health check" process - clear, strategic thinking, whole-dale solutions to our economic problems and swift, decisive action.

"Already major schemes are being developed and the new joint approach will ensure that the upper dale gets its fair share of the benefits. Watch this space!"

The forum's chairman, Nigel Mitchell, agreed: "By working with Teesdale Marketing and other local partners, we can achieve things that would otherwise be difficult to do on our own," he said