ATTLEBORO - Gov. Deval Patrick signed a $2.2 billion higher education bond bill Thursday that includes $4.5 million for a college facility in Attleboro.

The $4.5 million will pay for a building in the former Texas Instruments campus off Pleasant Street that is being converted into classrooms for Bristol Community College and Bridgewater State College.

The funding all but completes the dream of local officials to expand public higher education opportunities in the area to allow working people to get degrees and help businesses train their workers.

"Everyone is on board with the project and everyone is excited," said state Rep. Betty Poirier, R-North Attleboro.

The first floor of the building will house a branch of Bristol Community College. The college's foundation advanced the money for the construction work and the state bond will reimburse the foundation.

Poirier said there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony Aug. 22 and classes will begin in September.

The new facility will replace space the college has been using at the former high school on County Street, which lacks a handicap access and adequate parking.

The second floor of the new building will be renovated for Bridgewater State College, eventually providing a facility that offers associate and bachelor's degrees.

"The building is perfect for what we needed," Poirier said.

She said the only potential obstacle now is to get Patrick to authoritze borrowing for the project.

Although the Legislature approves a bond, it is up to governor to actually authorize the borrowing.

Poirier said many times projects get approved, but are never funded because the governor determines the state cannot afford it.

"Many things in that bond will never see the light of day," she said, adding that she believes Patrick will eventually allow borrowing for the Attleboro project.

Overall, the bond will pay for repairs to existing facilities throughout the state college and university system, along with some new buildings.