New Hanover County Awards $25,000 Grant to NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher for Expansion
New Hanover County has awarded a $25,000 grant to the NC Aquarium Society to support the expansion and renovation of the NC Aquarium at Fort Fisher (NCAFF). This funding is part of the 'Beneath the Surface: The Campaign for the NC Aquariums' capital campaign, which aims to raise private funds for enhancements across the North Carolina Aquariums. The grant was presented by members of the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners at Discovery Bay, a temporary mini-aquarium experience located at Independence Mall in Wilmington. The expansion project, which broke ground in May, will transform NCAFF into the largest aquarium in the state. It will feature a 400,000-gallon shark habitat, a new coral habitat, an interactive touch pool, and an expanded education center. During the multi-year construction period, NCAFF is temporarily closed, but visitors can still experience aquatic exhibits at Discovery Bay and other North Carolina Aquarium locations. 
