Federal officials designated money for hemp research at Oregon State University’s Global Hemp Innovation Center as part of the nearly $20 million earmarked for the hemp industry in the massive appropriations bill that passed both houses of the U.S. Congress at the end of 2019.

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkeley, a Democrat from Oregon, said Monday that the Corvallis school would receive $2.5 million to use for the new hemp research program.

The funding announcement “shows the federal government’s confidence in our work,” Sams told the Corvallis Gazette-Times.

The money will help establish the center, which will emphasize collaboration with other universities.

In September, Oregon State alumni Seth and Eric Crawford, founders of hempseed research and development company Oregon CBD, donated $1 million to the center to further research on hemp genetics.