Launched in 2021, Terra Firma is a $50 million land care initiative to beautify, maintain, and activate over 205 acres of vacant land on Chicago’s mid-South Side. Terra Firma uses vacant land as an engine of opportunity to create jobs, grow small businesses, improve the local environment, and enhance neighbors’ quality of life.
In the program's first three years, Terra Firma has achieved the following results:
Stabilized 102 acres of vacant land
Employed 59 adults and 128 youth through a green industry job training program
Graduated 69 businesses from an entrepreneurship program
Supported 41 local community gardens
Awarded over $2.3 million to local minority contractors
Hosted/sponsored over 20 art and activation events, engaging roughly 2,000 participants and completing 3 public murals
Do you have a vacant lot to revitalize? Use our Vacant Land Toolkit as a guide.
Interested in participating? Give us your thoughts on the connection between you, your community, and the Terra Firma program.
View our current job opportunities.
IN THE NEWS
Chicago nonprofit Emerald South beautifying vacant land with 'Lots of Compassion'
ABC7 — June 28, 2023
Thousands of tulips in Washington Park are beautifying the neighborhood — while highlighting inequity
Block Club Chicago — May 1, 2023
MacArthur grant recipient Amanda Williams’ latest public work looks at the history of redlining through 100,000 red tulips
Chicago Tribune — October 17, 2022
Vacant lots on mid-South Side target of $25 million beautification initiative
Hyde Park Herald — April 22, 2022
Cannabis tax revenue targets violence prevention
Crain’s Chicago Business — April 22, 2021
Emerald South and DuSable Museum get state grants out of marijuana fund
Hyde Park Herald — February 1, 2021
OUR FUNDERS
OUR PARTNERS
“One of the greatest but often overlooked assets of our neighborhoods is our land. By investing our time and resources in improving the land along our commercial corridors and residential streets, we make that value visible and accessible for our community.”