This award provides funding to the North Carolina Coastal Federation to create a shared aquaculture hub facility in Carteret County to support new and existing local oyster and clam growers. The project was developed in response to a multi-year feasibility study with the goals of increasing income for shellfish farmers and creating high-quality jobs. The hub will provide growers with a dock for improved access to the water, product refrigeration, storage, grading and loading equipment, and an aggregation site for distributors. It is projected that the hub will house 15 shellfish farmer operations processing $1,500,000 of shellfish per year. The hub’s proximity to fishing waters is expected to enable farmers to spend more time in their boats harvesting more shellfish, achieving measurable improvements in revenue, and ultimately adding jobs. Golden LEAF funds will be used for personnel, travel, supplies, site prep, and construction.