The Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce has given $1,000 toward the "Small Town Design Initiative" process begun in Northport.

Board members voted unanimously Tuesday to issue a check for $1,000 to the Leelanau Township Community Foundation’s “design initiative” fund. Merry Hawley, executive director of the foundation, said the total cost for the design initiative process is $6,000.

Michigan State University students have been working with the community of Northport to devise a plan to support sustained vibrancy in the village and the surrounding area.

More than 200 community members participated in a brainstorming session held July 25 in Northport. In a second session, scheduled for Sept. 27 in the Northport Community Arts Center, participants will be broken into small groups and will meet with 24 MSU landscape architecture students to accept feedback.

The Northport-Omena Chamber, along with the foundation, invites participation and encourages donations to offset the cost of the process.

For more information, call the foundation at 386-9000 or the Northport-Omena Chamber of Commerce at 386-7303.