The City of Steubenville has sparked interest as a prime location for businesses as officials said old buildings taking on new life this year.

City Mayor Domenick Mucci said they are excited to bring more jobs and economic growth to the area.

"We're starting to experience a little bit of investments within our community. We noticed our building permits are up. Development is happening through the community," said Mucci.

Mucci said officials are working to make the area affordable, and the building renaissance is needed.

"It's definitely a welcome addition. For so long we have experienced a decline in that particular area, and now we're noticing the attraction and the attention," said Mucci.

With pockets of jobs created over many months, officials said the oil and gas industry played a major part in revitalizing the city.

"We knew that that was going to be a slow growth. We anticipated that," said Mucci. "So, we're pretty much on target, but we can't put all of our eggs in one basket. We have to remember and stay vigilant that we have to diversify our economy."

Local realtors and agencies said more deals are underway to help round out the diverse business core already in Steubenville. City officials said they hope to continue their efforts to grow despite a tough budget.