EGCC Campus Turnaround Brings New Opportunity for Steubenville

EGCC Campus Turnaround Brings New Opportunity for Jefferson County and Steubenville

Big news for Jefferson County and Steubenville: the 84-acre campus of the former Eastern Gateway Community College (EGCC) is now firmly back in the hands of the county, after a protracted legal and operational process. In the deal, the county assumed ownership of the property originally used by EGCC — clearing the path for Youngstown State University (YSU) to step in with a potential satellite presence in Steubenville. The final decision and plans for YSU are forthcoming, so exact numbers for students and employment remain to be seen. 

This is more than just a property transfer — it’s a strategic win for Jefferson County, Steubenville, and businesses from the campus all the way to downtown. Here’s why:

• More students and staff on campus means more foot traffic, more demand, and more spending in nearby businesses like cafés, restaurants, coffee shops, cigar lounges, and other services geared toward the college crowd.

• The county’s expectation is that education uses will anchor the site, but that opens up parts of the property for complementary business or mixed-use development, meaning more local jobs and more reason for people to spend time downtown.

• For downtown business owners, this is a chance to think proactively: student-friendly hours, trendy cafés, late-night bites, lounges that cater to college staff or visiting families — all these become relevant as the campus ecosystem gears up again.

In short: What once was uncertainty now is becoming momentum. The return of the property and the potential for a renewed academic presence in Steubenville signal a fresh chapter. It’s time to position your business to catch the wave of increased activity, because as students, faculty and staff engage with the downtown corridor, so too does opportunity for the local economy.