An underground physics lab in Sudbury is receiving a $22.6 million boost from the federal government.

SNOlab, located two kilometers underground in Vale's Creighton Mine, will use the money to run the facility for the next five years.

The director of SNOlab said the lab attracts scientists from around the world — and that provides a boost to the economy in Sudbury.

"When they're on site here and they need work done, they need engineering support and they need construction support, all of those sorts of activities will be done locally,” Nigel Smith said.

“So we're bringing money from outside the region, outside Sudbury and outside Ontario into this region to allow us to undertake these projects."

He said the funding from the federal government will cover half of the operational expenses for five years.

SNOlab is seeking funding from the provincial government to cover the rest of expenses, Smith added.