STEUBENVILLE, Ohio — Steubenville officials are working to determine which areas of the city should be prioritized for Opportunity Zone designation as Jefferson County prepares to submit its recommendations to the state.
During a recent meeting, Economic Development Director Jason Hamman presented information on the nomination process and recommended that the city pursue Census Tract 000200, which stretches from downtown Steubenville to University Boulevard. Officials said the area offers significant potential for future investment and redevelopment.
Jefferson County Port Authority Executive Director Robert Naylor said ongoing investment at Franciscan University could help attract additional private development to surrounding neighborhoods and downtown Steubenville.
City leaders also invited local business owners and property owners to share their perspectives on which areas would benefit most from the designation. Officials said community input is an important part of the decision-making process as multiple nominations from across Jefferson County will compete for consideration.
Several council members emphasized the importance of working together and maintaining transparency throughout the selection process. They said presenting a unified recommendation will strengthen the county’s application.
Jefferson County has six eligible census tracts that can be nominated, including areas in Steubenville, Mingo Junction and Toronto. Those tracts must be ranked in order of priority before being submitted to the state.
After discussion, Steubenville City Council voted to give the city manager the authority to make the final recommendation on behalf of the city rather than forming a separate committee.
Applications for the Opportunity Zone nominations must be submitted by Friday, July 10.
