NC H461

Appropriates $10,000,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Division of North Carolina Aquariums for expansion of the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher in the 2019-2020 fiscal year as nonrecurring funds.

Total expansion project estimated to cost $20 million, with the Aquarium raising $5 million through capital campaign and $5 million through admission receipts, with state funds covering the remaining $10 million.

Planned improvements include structural upgrades, updated displays, redesigned classroom spaces, new otter habitat, and new large feature aquarium to display sand tiger sharks.

Aquarium structure is over 40 years old with last capital renovation in 2002, and has hosted more than 6.4 million visitors since that renovation.

Act becomes effective July 1, 2019.