Bloomington's two institutions of higher education will receive nearly $1 million for biotechnology and life sciences improvements from a federal appropriations bill signed into law this week by President George W. Bush.

Ivy Tech Community College will receive $550,000 to develop a biotechnology associate's degree at its Bloomington campus. Indiana University will get $400,000 for life sciences.

The funding is in the form of "earmarks," special budget lines inserted in the omnibus appropriations bill at the request of members of Congress.

Credit for the funding went to U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, D-Ind.

"Baron worked very hard on it on behalf of our students and our new program," said John Whikehart, the Ivy Tech Bloomington chancellor. "We're just real excited this has happened for us."

Bloomington and five other Ivy Tech campuses began developing biotechnology programs with help from a Lilly Endowment grant a year ago. In September, officials announced an agreement allowing students to complete a two-year degree in biotechnology at Ivy Tech, then move straight to a four-year program at IU in Bloomington.

For Hill, who lost his re-election bid to Republican Mike Sodrel, getting the funding approved was one of the last acts of a six-year tenure in Congress.

"Ivy Tech Bloomington's role in the evolving life sciences arena is critical to the economic development of our communities," he said in a statement.

Whikehart said officials hadn't yet seen the language of the funding bill, but they expect to use the money for labs and scholarships for biotechnology courses that start this summer.

Bill Stephan, IU's vice president for university relations and corporate partnerships, said school officials were still waiting to learn details of the life sciences funding in the bill.

Reporter Steve Hinnefeld can be reached at 331-4374 or by e-mail at shinnefeld@heraldt.com.