Editing East Ayrshire (section)

===Economic history===
Historically the economy of East Ayrshire was dependent on industries such as [[coal mining]], [[textiles]] and general manufacturing which largely fell into decline in Scotland during the 1970s and 1980s.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web |title=East Ayrshire's Economic Development Strategy 2014/2025 |url=https://www.east-ayrshire.gov.uk/Resources/PDF/E/EconomicDevelopmentStrategy2014-2025.pdf |website=East Ayrshire Council}}</ref> Certain parts of East Ayrshire, particularly in the south of the region, such as [[Auchinleck]], [[Bellsbank]] and [[Dalmellington]] have struggled to recover from the economic hardship caused by the decline and gradual closure of traditional industries, and are supported through various initiatives to try and rejuvenate their economies.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

Kilmarnock has seen a gradual decline in manufacturing performance in recent years. In 2009, [[Diageo]], owner of [[Scotch whisky|whisky]] maker [[Johnnie Walker]] (which had been founded in Kilmarnock) announced the proposed closure of the bottling plant facility in Hill Street, and in 2012, Diageo closed the facility with the loss of 700 jobs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-scotland-17489529|title = Johnnie Walker leaves Kilmarnock|work = BBC News}}</ref> In December 2015, Kilmarnock was awarded the title of Scotland's Most Improved Town due to efforts towards town regeneration and restoration.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35056025|title=Kilmarnock scoops regeneration award|first=Reevel|last=Alderson|work=BBC News|date=10 December 2015|access-date=7 December 2017}}</ref>