Downtown Steubenville Opportunity Zone Advances

The Downtown Steubenville Business Association would like to thank the Jefferson County Port Authority, the City of Steubenville, and the Jefferson County for their leadership in advancing Census Tract 2 — Census Tract 39081000200 — as Jefferson County’s top priority for Opportunity Zone 2.0 designation. This was a great, collaborative effort, which you can learn more about from this Herald-Star article.

This is an important vote of confidence in downtown Steubenville, the University Blvd corridor, and in the investment already taking place in these areas. This nomination will unlock federal tax benefits to spur new and redevelopment at no cost to the city or the county. It also helps unlock other state incentives.

Census Tract 2 includes most of historic downtown Steubenville and extends north toward the University Boulevard corridor. It brings together our historic commercial district, major redevelopment opportunities, institutional investment, the riverfront, small businesses, housing opportunities, and some of the community’s most important cultural assets.

You can find an interactive map of the nominated Census tract here.

What Happens Next?

The nomination now moves to the State of Ohio.

Governor Mike DeWine will decide which eligible census tracts Ohio submits to the U.S. Treasury for designation. The deadline for Ohio’s nominations is September 28, 2026, although the state can request a 30-day extension.

If the Governor agrees with our local partners and selects Census Tract 2, the new Opportunity Zone designation will take effect January 1, 2027.

Opportunity Zone designation is not itself a grant. Instead, it creates federal tax incentives intended to attract long-term private investment through Qualified Opportunity Funds. For downtown Steubenville, that could provide another important financing tool for historic building rehabilitation, upper-floor housing, new and expanding businesses, restaurants and retail, technology and professional jobs, tourism, and redevelopment of vacant or underused properties.

Ready to Hit the Ground Running

One of the strongest arguments for Census Tract 2 is that we do not have to wait until 2027 to begin rebuilding downtown. That work is already happening. DSBA strongly supported this nomination because we believe downtown has the combination of existing momentum and unrealized opportunity necessary to make meaningful use of this designation. You can read DSBA’s full letter of support here.

Businesses are opening and expanding. Historic buildings are being rehabilitated. Institutions and nonprofits are making major investments. New housing is being developed. Cultural events are bringing people downtown. And significant opportunities remain along Fourth Street, Market Street, University Boulevard, and the Ohio River.

For now, we simply want to say thank you to the Jefferson County Port Authority, the City of Steubenville, the Jefferson County Commissioners, and everyone who helped bring our community together around this nomination.

We hope the Governor agrees and, if he does, we’ll be ready January 1.