The Special Projects Team is based within the Economic Development Service of the Council. The team delivers a range of projects, which are designed to produce visible outcomes in the North Ayrshire economy.
 
It is a multi-disciplinary approach, which involves the development of partnerships and the imaginative use of funding packages.
Current initiatives include:

Partners for Continuing Employment (PACE)
PACE is a Scottish Executive initiative ensuring that local public sector partners deal with proposed large-scale redundancies quickly and effectively. The key aim is to get people made redundant into employment or training as quickly as possible. The team represents the Council on the Ayrshire Local Response Team.

Business Improvement Districts (BID)
A BID is a business-led initiative within a defined geographical area of a town or city, where businesses work together and invest collectively in local improvements to their business environment. The improvements and services are in addition to those services delivered by local authorities. The team acts as the contact for the BID process in North Ayrshire.  
 
Town Centre Regeneration
The Special Projects team has successfully completed a pilot of the Town Centre Regeneration Framework in Dalry and this is now being rolled out to other towns in the area.  In 2010, work will be undertaken in Kilbirnie, followed by Beith in 2011 and Largs in 2012.
 
A large scale town centre ‘Healthcheck’ is undertaken initially by a research company to consult with local residents and businesses on the priority projects for the town and how the town is currently performing.  From this research, appropriate elements of the Town Centre Regeneration Framework are identified to be implemented in the town.  The Framework includes a Shop Front Grant Scheme, Training and Business Support, Environmental Improvement works, Signage, Public Safety Improvements, Community and Business Group Support and Branding and Marketing. 
 
The work in Dalry has resulted in very visible improvements to the appearance of the town centre, has given Dalry an identity, Living Dalry, and has seen the creation of a strong and determined Business Group, Business Dalry.  The group will continue to promote town centre trade to encourage more shoppers, organise events and trading initiatives between the businesses.  The investment from the traders of each town centre is crucial to the long-term success of town centre regeneration in North Ayrshire.