Darlington MEANS Business has been set up by Peter Gibson, the town's MP to try and support enterprises in the current climate.
He said: "I want to support businesses in Darlington whether they are large or small, local, national or international. Darlington has a proud heritage of commerce and entrepreneurship; I want to see this continue.
"This forum lets business share ideas and celebrate all that is great about business in our town."
The group has been set up on Facebook and gives members the opportunity to support each other, as well as share concerns with Mr Gibson.
More than 300 members – representing about 15 per cent of Darlington's business community – have already joined.
Mr Gibson has used the group to post updates on what help is available, and what he has been doing, along with his colleagues, to lobby the Government for additional business support and intends to use it to target small businesses that currently fall out of the scope of the two existing schemes.
He also hopes businesses can use the forum to celebrate one another for the support they are providing to the community.
He is urging other business leaders in the town to join the group.
The page can be found here.
-Originally published in the Northern Echo-