Rural businesses and retail centres across Tonbridge and Malling are being offered nearly £500,000 worth of grants to help counter the economic slowdown.

The council is planning two types of grant: the first will be specifically for rural business and community projects with grants of up to £25,000 to rural enterprises which are developing new products and services, including farms looking to diversify income streams.

The grants will generally be available from next year to fund up to 50 per cent of project costs, rising to 80 per cent in exceptional circumstances for community projects.

The second type of grant will be to improve shop fronts, mimicking a similar successful scheme which ran from 2019 to 2021 and helped 31 stores.

Retailers will be able to apply for a grant to meet 60 per cent of improvement costs, up to a maximum of £3,500.

The money is coming from £447,450 earmarked for the borough from government’s Rural England Prosperity Fund, and from £102,000 earmarked for the borough from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

Cllr Vivian Branson, the cabinet member for economic regeneration, said: "The tough economic outlook is affecting businesses everywhere, but rural enterprises and smaller independent retail outlets are particularly vulnerable when people reduce their spending."

She said: "These grants will help support innovation, stimulate our rural communities and keep our high streets looking attractive for shoppers.

"I very much look forward to launching these schemes next year and seeing them deliver benefits which will be felt right across the local economy."