Belmont County residents plan to cash in on the oil and gas drilling in the Barnesville area as property owners signed agreements with Antero Resources this month and in February. The deal was first offered to the village of Barnesville last year, which will generate nearly $6 million.

"The city could really use it. The times have been hard around here with people and stuff, and I think it will be really good for the community," said Richard Casterline, a Barnesville resident.

Belmont County Port Authority Director Larry Merry said the drilling activity throughout the area continues to heat up. Most companies are wrapping up paperwork signings with residents and towns.

"There's been a few wells drilled, and I think the results of those wells have been tremendous," said Merry. "That caused some extra interest in leasing ground and things."

Property owners in Barnesville are in for the same deal as the village of $5,700 an acre and 20 percent royalties.

"We've signed papers and stuff, and we already went through the process. We haven't gotten anything yet, but I think it will be really good for the economy," said Casterline.

Town officials said they would like to use some of the money to build some facilities for the community.

"Probably just (keeping) the roads up (is) the main thing. There's what tears the roads up, them trucks," said Harold Doudna, a Barnesville resident.

Others said they are more focused on longer term investments, like businesses and jobs to attract to Belmont County. Port Authority officials said the drilling activity would boost values in the billions of dollars range.