BUSINESSES have given their backing to plans to create a management body for two market towns.
The body will co-ordinate marketing, provide a voice for the trade community and promote social and economic vitality in Malton and Norton.
It will be launched next week.
Under the working title of Backing Business, Malton and Norton town centre management has put together a proposal for the organisation, which has the support of more than 100 businesses operating in the towns.
Town centre manager Peter Mudge said: "It is our aim to improve the vitality and viability of Malton and Norton with the support of the community and the commercial interests in the towns.
"We aim to establish a dynamic structure providing a succession to the work of the Malton and Norton town centre project when funding ends this year."
The current town centre management was established through funding from Malton and Norton Area Partnership, the Countryside Agency, Ryedale District Council and Yorkshire Forward.
The Fitzwilliam Estate paid £5,000 a year and the remaining money for events was provided by local businesses, Arts Council England and Arts and Business. This three-year funding ends next month.
Mr Mudge said: "Town management has encouraged more than £100,000 of new money to be invested in new ways of helping the towns."
Plans for the new body include expanding the marketing and publicity of the towns, creating and maintaining a voice for local businesses, staging attractions, visits and events to widen the towns' appeal and ensuring retailers' concerns are followed up.
The organisation will merge with Malton and Norton Chamber of Trade and work with the Licensed Victuallers' Association.
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