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Market stall holders, pubs and restaurants are set to receive a helping hand to bounce back from Covid-19 in the form of new cash grants.
Dartford council is offering hard hit traders and hospitality businesses additional funding through its "Support Our Shops" and "Additional Restrictions" Grants.
So far the authority has pumped £15 million into the local economy since the pandemic began.
Now two new grants have been unveiled to help struggling businesses get back on their feet, of which £1.1million has been set aside through the "Support Our Shops" scheme
Among those scheduled to receive the grant was Simon Zaiden, a stall holder who has served Dartford’s weekly market for 53 years.
He said: “The last year has been very, very tough, but the council has been fantastic, it’s helped and supported us and we really appreciate it.
"It's great to be back in the fresh air working again.”
"It's great to be back in the fresh air working again.”
Fellow stall owner Bob Barrance said: "It's tough, it's like the High Street, it's not going to be easy because unfortunately we're the same as the shops.
"If the footfall is not there it's tough, and we have to get the footfall back, obviously.
But with customers now returning since lockdown, Phil Jenns, who runs a fruit and veg stall says he is delighted to see the "buzz is back".
He said: "It's fantastic, since we opened up again, it's been getting better and better.
"I might be able to get some of my staff back soon."
New businesses will also be eligible for the council's cash grants, according to the authority.
Daniel Farr, co-owner of The Dartford Jug, took over the micropub in Market Street in September.
Over the last year he says there has many unforeseen added expenses which have been hard to predict.
He said: “During the pandemic there have been so many expenses for us to focus on.
"There's so many expenses that you can't forecast that come into play. For example the plastic board, £500, you can't predict that."
On the announcement of new grants, he added: "It’s amazing and it will go a long way to get us back on our feet again.”
Dartford Council leader Jeremy Kite recently met with traders to hear how the funding will help them.
The Tory Cllr said: “Since this pandemic began last spring, Dartford council has been offering support to businesses large and small right across the borough.
“As we return to a degree of normality, local businesses need support now more than ever, particularly local traders and small, independent traders.
And it's not just Dartford's High Street that will receive a welcome financial boost, as Cllr Kite explains how his local parade of shops in Longfield will also benefit.
He said: “We’re launching a new initiative called ‘Support Our Shops’, the idea is that we’ll be putting money into those businesses that have had support from us over the last 18 months, with a particular focus on those small, independent traders in the retail and hospitality trade who have been particularly badly hit.
"Residents can help by shopping locally," he said. "They offer great services and prices and they really need your support right now.
"Use them or lose them. Let’s shop local, and get Dartford back on its feet.”
