The first was the District of Easington Youth Forum, which brings together 40 young people to involve them in local decision making, giving them the chance to participate in the democratic process.
It is the first youth forum to be launched in County Durham and will have a constitution giving it fundraising powers and the ability to actively commission pieces of work.
The second project to be unveiled was an innovative way of communicating with the public.
The scheme has been organised by the East Durham Local Strategic Partnership (LSP), which aims to bring organisations together to work to improve the economic and social well-being of Easington.
The LSP TV system consists of 40 plasma screens installed across the area and is the first of its kind in the country.
It is hoped these new screens will enable them to communicate what is happening across the district to members of the public.
The screens have been installed in community centres, schools, shops, cafes, leisure centres and post offices and aim to get across positive messages about how different projects are impacting on residents.
Both projects were unveiled at the Wingate Community Centre, where Mr Blair switched on the district-wide LSP TV system and presented representatives of the youth forum with a gift to mark the launch.

Hartlepool Today 15 May 2004