The Leelanau Township Community Foundation (LTCF) is rolling out a new scholarship program to make early childhood education more affordable to local families. The scholarship fund is open to Leelanau Township families who meet income eligibility standards and have kids between zero and six years of age who attend or plan to attend Northport’s Dandelion Discovery Center.

“We are proud to announce that LTCF has partnered with the Leelanau Early Childhood Development Commission, Northport Public School, and the Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department to offer tuition assistance at the Dandelion Discovery Center in Northport,” LTCF announced on social media last week. “This is a new pilot program offered through our Basil Antenucci Early Childhood Scholarship Fund.”

Income eligibility for the pilot program “is 225% of poverty based on household income and number of people in the family utilizing Federal Poverty Guidelines,” LTCF says. “Children receiving State or Federal childcare support are not eligible.”

The pilot program is set to launch with fall 2026 enrollment, with applications still open until May 22. Scholarship funds will also be available for the summer 2027 session, with those applications opening in January 2027. The application can be found here.