Western Kentucky University may receive $2.1 million in federal funding to construct a United States Department of Agriculture lab on campus.

The university also looks to receive a half million dollars for bio-fuel research.

U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced that he has secured more than $20 million for projects in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs bill that will go to the Senate floor for consideration.

Of that money, WKU may receive $2 million to fund the construction of a USDA research lab on campus to reside in the location where the Thompson Complex North Wing is located.

The USDA is temporarily conducting its research at the university’s farm until the new building is constructed.

Jack Rudolph, agriculture department head at the university, said the remaining funds will contribute to the Green River Water Quality and Biological Diversity Monitoring Project. That project looks at limiting the amount of animal waste and agriculture-related run-off products - such as fertilizer - from making their way into the river.

U.S. Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Bowling Green, also recently announced funding for the university.

Guthrie said he has secured $500,000 as part of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act to fund bio-fuel research at the school’s Institute for Combustion Science and Environmental Technology.

The act is expected to pass the U.S. House of Representatives next week.

The funds will be used to develop and test improved bio-fuel production processes, said Buddy Steen, director of the university’s Center for Research and Development.

“This new process, invented by WKU researchers, has the potential to revolutionize the bio-fuel industry,” he said in a news release.