Whyalla locals have welcomed more certainty about the future ownership of the city's steelworks, but say it is still not enough to warrant business investment and workers coming back to the Spencer Gulf.Premier Peter Malinauskas announced on Wednesday that M Resources and Jindal Steel had been chosen as the two remaining bidders for the troubled steelworks, while BlueScope Steel retains its right of last offer.John O'Halloran has run an industrial supplies business in Whyalla for more than 20 years.He said the uncertainty of the past five years, with former owner GFG Alliance's financial troubles and then the state government taking over the steelworks last year, had led to people leaving Whyalla and businesses being reluctant to invest in their own growth."I think the finality of a bid and some clear air for investment into the plant will change that sentiment," he said."We'd certainly like to see it turn around with more young people and families moving into the town."Premier Peter Malinauskas has announced the final two bidders for the steelworks. (ABC News: James Wakelin)He said it was positive that there were now only two bidders, but whoever took over the steelworks would need deep pockets to "drag it into the 21st century"."I think the sentiment around the town is we would just like it to happen, to get some finality," he said."It's been an ongoing process that has dragged on and on and on, and then issues with the blast furnace working and not working. "We're all fully aware that whoever does take it over has a big task to rebuild the whole plant — it's pretty old. It hasn't had much maintenance and investment in it."I know that there's a nationalistic sentiment for Australian ownership, but really at the end of the day it's who's the best placed to take it into the future."David Pringuer, from nearby Iron Knob, said the uncertainty around the future of the steelworks, and particularly the blast furnace, had been hard on the region, with many people worried about their jobs.David Pringuer says there have been concerns around the operations of the steelworks. (ABC North and West SA: Declan Durrant)"It is good to have some certainty, but obviously people would have liked this to be done sooner," he said."Anything to do with this sort of stuff is never going to be quick off the bat, so I think they've done it as fast as they possibly can, but obviously some people aren't going to be happy."He said many people would prefer the operation to return to Australian hands."You’ve got Australians working in Australia on Australian steel. I can’t see that being a loser," he said.Others are more positive.Emily Inglis opened her boutique three years ago.Emily Inglis hopes a new steelworks owner will inject more trust into local businesses. (ABC North and West SA: Declan Durrant)She said she trusted the state government to make the right decision about the new owner."I think with the sale of the steelworks and potentially re-employment of local people, hopefully it reinforces some trust in our community and in small business," she said.Steelworks worker Hayley Perkins said people did not want to have to leave Whyalla.Hayley Perkins is a manager at the Whyalla steelworks. (ABC News: James Wakelin)"It's not about finding a new job. It's about leaving Whyalla, which a lot of us don't want," she said."We love it here. That's why we stay here, and we raise families."