Lien Forward Ohio
Department Head
Debora Flora
Executive Director
Mission Statement 
The purpose of Lien Forward Ohio is to return vacant, tax-delinquent land to productive use.
Abandoned, unproductive, unattractive land – particularly in our older cities but also in our inner-ring suburbs – is a significant regional problem and an impediment to economic progress. Lien Forward Ohio is committed to collaborating with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors to facilitate constructive, aesthetic land reutilization. We believe that strategic land reutilization helps to renew our central cities, bolster our suburbs and strengthen our regional economy.
What We Do
What is Lien Forward Ohio?
- A regional council of governments, created under Chapter 167 of Ohio Revised Code.
- A partnership between the Mahoning County Treasurer and the City of Youngstown.
- Created in October 2005.
- The goal is to return an additional 5,000 vacant, abandoned parcels to productive use within five years.
How does it work?
- LFO shortens the time and reduces the expense of transferring ownership on abandoned property.
- It also provides financial aid to qualifying individuals and organizations that want to own property.
- LFO offers legal services to qualifying homeowners for acquisition of property.
- LFO is developing strategies for renovation and revitalization in specific neighborhoods.
- LFO also is forging partnerships with private businesses and organizations.
How is it supported?
- Initial capital came from the Mahoning County Treasurer’s Office, which used $300,000 in fees collected during negotiated tax lien sales.
- Rent-free lease of office space is provided by the City of Youngstown, which owns 20 Federal Place.
- City of Youngstown also provides $90,000 annually for Lien Forward Ohio’s Property Acquisition Fund, to help interested parties pay for legal costs of property acquisition.
- Future tax lien sales will provide additional annual funding.
- Lien sale contributions will be used to leverage additional revenues from federal and state grants, foundations and bank community reinvestment funds.