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Over $1.3 Million Awarded to Build and Rehab Homes, Tear Down Others in Allegany County

One Community Update
January 24, 2025

Source: The Evening Tribune

The Allegany County Land Bank now has more financial resources than ever before in its quest to improve the local housing stock.

The Lank Bank has been awarded a $1.365 million grant from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the non-profit announced Thursday.

The grant will be used to enhance the local housing stock, eliminate blight through strategic demolitions, and partner with local organizations to create affordable housing for residents. The grant marks the largest award the Allegany County Land Bank has ever received through the state’s Land Bank Initiative Program.

Jason Isaman, Executive Director of the Allegany County Land Bank, said the grant represents a “significant investment” in the county.

“This award allows us to make even greater strides in eliminating blight, stabilizing neighborhoods, and creating long-term housing solutions in collaboration with our local partners,” Isaman said in a release. “The impact of this funding will be felt throughout Allegany County for years to come.”

How Land Bank funding will be used in Allegany County

The non-profit said the funding from the Land Bank Initiative Program will be utilized to further three goals in Allegany County:

Remove blight through strategic demolitions, targeting unsafe and abandoned buildings that negatively affect the community.

Support local housing partners, including Friendship Revitalization and Economic Development, Andover Historic Preservation Corp, and Genesee Valley Habitat for Humanity, to rehabilitate and redevelop properties for affordable, attainable housing.

Strengthen local housing stock, making homes more stable, accessible, and sustainable for families across Allegany County.

What is the grant’s impact on Allegany County housing?

Allegany County Land Bank is dedicated to revitalizing vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties in Allegany County. It works with local partners to stabilize homes for rehabilitation, remove blight, and promote the creation of affordable housing options.

The Land Bank netted two earlier grants that supported the stabilization of homes for rehabilitation and the demolition of dilapidated properties, including one in Almond this winter.

The $1.365 million grant is nearly three times bigger than the Land Bank’s previous largest award. The Land Bank said the funding will position the non-profit to expand its efforts to include additional new home development, strategic demolitions and rehabilitation projects in partnership with local organizations.

“Today’s $1.3 million grant builds on two prior HCR Land Bank Initiative awards and will allow additional rehabilitation projects that improve neighborhoods for Allegany County residents,” said HCR Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas.

“Thank you to the Allegany County Land Bank Corporation for their partnership and to Governor Hochul for her commitment to investing in communities, increasing housing supply, and improving affordability for New Yorkers.”

 

For full report, please click the source link above.

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CEO

Alan Jaffa

Alan Jaffa is the Chief Executive Officer for Safeguard Properties, steering the company as the mortgage field services industry leader. He also serves on the board of advisors for SCG Partners, a middle-market private equity fund focused on diversifying and expanding Safeguard Properties’ business model into complimentary markets.

Alan joined Safeguard in 1995, learning the business from the ground up. He was promoted to Chief Operating Officer in 2002, and was named CEO in May 2010. His hands-on experience has given him unique insights as a leader to innovate, improve and strengthen Safeguard’s processes to assure that the company adheres to the highest standards of quality and customer service.

Under Alan’s leadership, Safeguard has grown significantly with strategies that have included new and expanded services, technology investments that deliver higher quality and greater efficiency to clients, and strategic acquisitions. He takes a team approach to process improvement, involving staff at all levels of the organization to address issues, brainstorm solutions, and identify new and better ways to serve clients.

In 2008, Alan was recognized by Crain’s Cleveland Business in its annual “40-Under-40” profile of young leaders. He also was named a NEO Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award finalist in 2013.

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Esq., General Counsel and EVP

Linda Erkkila

Linda Erkkila is the General Counsel and Executive Vice President for Safeguard Properties, with oversight of legal, human resources, training, and compliance. Linda’s broad scope of oversight covers regulatory issues that impact Safeguard’s operations, risk mitigation, strategic planning, human resources and training initiatives, compliance, insurance, litigation and claims management, and counsel related to mergers, acquisition and joint ventures.

Linda assures that Safeguard’s strategic initiatives align with its resources, leverage opportunities across the company, and contemplate compliance mandates. She has practiced law for 25 years and her experience, both as outside and in-house counsel, covers a wide range of corporate matters, including regulatory disclosure, corporate governance compliance, risk assessment, compensation and benefits, litigation management, and mergers and acquisitions.

Linda earned her JD at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law. She holds a degree in economics from Miami University and an MBA. Linda was previously named as both a “Woman of Influence” by HousingWire and as a “Leading Lady” by MReport.

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COO

Michael Greenbaum

Michael Greenbaum is the Chief Operating Officer of Safeguard Properties, where he has played a pivotal role since joining the company in July 2010. Initially brought on as Vice President of REO, Mike’s exceptional leadership and strategic vision quickly propelled him to Vice President of Operations in 2013, and ultimately to COO in 2015. Over his 14-year tenure at Safeguard, Mike has been instrumental in driving change and fostering innovation within the Property Preservation sector, consistently delivering excellence and becoming a trusted partner to clients and investors.

A distinguished graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Mike earned a degree in Quantitative Economics. Following his graduation, he served in the U.S. Army’s Ordnance Branch, where he specialized in supply chain management. Before his tenure at Safeguard, Mike honed his expertise by managing global supply chains for 13 years, leveraging his military and civilian experience to lead with precision and efficacy.

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CFO

Joe Iafigliola

Joe Iafigliola is the Chief Financial Officer for Safeguard Properties. Joe is responsible for the Control, Quality Assurance, Business Development, Marketing, Accounting, and Information Security departments. At the core of his responsibilities is the drive to ensure that Safeguard’s focus remains rooted in Customer Service = Resolution. Through his executive leadership role, he actively supports SGPNOW.com, an on-demand service geared towards real estate and property management professionals as well as individual home owners in need of inspection and property preservation services. Joe is also an integral force behind Compliance Connections, a branch of Safeguard Properties that allows code enforcement professionals to report violations at properties that can then be addressed by the Safeguard vendor network. Compliance Connections also researches and shares vacant property ordinance information with Safeguard clients.

Joe has an MBA from The Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, is a Certified Management Accountant (CMA), and holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University’s Honors Accounting program.

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Business Development

Carrie Tackett

Business Development Safeguard Properties