160 million dollars of federal stimulus money was up for grabs nationwide. All organizations had to do was prove to the government their restoration project deserved it and The North Carolina Coastal Federation did just that.

The money is going to an oyster reef restoration project in the Pamlico Sound. The limestone is mined in New Bern, trucked to Belhaven, loaded on barges, and then dumped in water near Stumpy Point. Once the limestone is at the site an excavator drops the rocks into the water, underneath the water are huge mounds of limestone that will eventually create the reefs.

In all, around 50 acres of reefs will be constructed and while these sanctuaries are off limits to fisherman, they will help multiply the overall fish population in the sound, great news for fisherman in other areas.

The restoration project is also a boost to the local economy. Stevens Towing Company General Manager Simon Rich says last year he had to park a lot of equipment and let a whole bunch of good people go but thanks to federal stimulus money his company is getting back on track.

"All our guys on this rig were rehired, they live in Cape Hatteras, worked for us prior to the recession and we had to let them go in February but now we hired them back and hired them back in their own backyard for a project they are excited about."

Although the project is already funded, it's up to mother nature to determine when it will be finished, since weather greatly impacts construction. The deadline is two years from now but organizers hope to sail through the process and be done in a year.

The 5 million dollar grant is also being used to pay commercial fisherman to place 40,000 bushels of oyster shells in the water up and down the North Carolina Coast. That part of the project will start in the spring.