SPECIAL PROJECTS
Focusing on Making Life “Up North” Even More Desirable
What makes a community great? What makes it a desirable place to live? It’s a combination of things: quality of life, attractiveness, educational opportunities… those are just a few of the key things to consider when choosing a place to call home.
Calling on our 65-plus year history of helping build the communities of Leelanau Township, since 2001 the Leelanau Township Community Foundation has been taking a more active role in shaping the future of the community through the projects it supports. Two major projects the LTCF is currently involved with are Future By Design and the Leelanau Children’s Center-Northport. Read on to learn more about these two important initiatives for our community.
Future By Design:
Making Plans for Northport’s Future
A livable, walkable, community that retains the charms of small town life, respects the past, yet shows a zest for the future. That’s what we envision Northport becoming as we move into a future that’s planned to enhance the natural attributes of our area.
Because our residents are passionate about the future of their community, the Leelanau Township Community Foundation has become deeply involved with Future by Design, the outgrowth of the visioning process that began in 2002 and the Small Town Design Initiative project with Michigan State University that began in 2007.
Bolstered by a great outpouring of participation and interest during the summer of 2008 through the MSU Small Town Design Initiative, it seems the community has begun to ramp up for the challenge. Future by Design Northport is a timely and critical step for the community to embark upon. It is clear that visioning and planning have been embraced as fundamental first steps. It is also clear the community will need to embark on a well-laid path of committed efforts, which when combined will help the community of Northport regain its unique, time treasured image of “a place not to be missed.” READ MORE >>
Leelanau Children's Center Northport
Lifelong Education: A critical component for the future
It’s a given – lifetime success and education go together. For many years the Leelanau Township Community Foundation has been helping promising Northport residents follow their dreams to a better future by acting as a resource for scholarships for college-bound students. 
The foundation is two years into a commitment to support early childhood education in Northport through its support of the Leelanau Children’s Center’s award-winning early childhood education programs. This commitment to education benefits the entire community by assuring young families of the quality education that all parents seek for their children – no matter what the age. From the youngest member of the community through high school and beyond, the Leelanau Township Foundation’s commitment to education enhances the future.
To learn more about the Leelanau Children’s Center and their early childhood education program, please visit LeelanauChildrensCenter.com
