featured photo: Flint Native Miracle McGlown
Written by Tanya Terry
Flint Native and Owner and Designer of 1:Eleven Handmade Handbags Miracle McGlown recently talked with the Courier about how after serving nearly a decade in prison, he was able to open a storefront in the Dryden Building on Saginaw Street. He also has a thriving online platform and saw his business grow by 20% in 2024.
Receiving support helped make this all a reality for McGlown.
Factory Two is a community makerspace in downtown Flint. The makerspace was funded in part by $50,000 from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Public Spaces Community Places grant match program. This helped open the door to new opportunity for McGlown and many others.
McGlown shared more of his story, in hopes he could encourage other aspiring Flint-area business owners and other creative people.
After serving 10 years on a 20-year prison sentence for drug conspiracy and receiving clemency in 2017 from Former President Barack Obama, Miracle McGlown went to work for the City of Flint Street Maintenance.
McGlown had also made several bags for family and friends during his time in prison.
Then, he recalls, in 2020 and 2021, COVID happened.
McGlown shared: “I went and got some tools and leather and started doing bags for just my family and friends, first most. I just grew clientele into a business where I opened up a business in 2021 during the pandemic, opened up a website.”
McGlown’s business has been going strong for about three years now.
He told the Courier he received “a spark” and “motivation” when in 2022 he won the $5,000 1st-place prize in a contest through 100K Ideas. The money allowed him to purchase more leather and tooling.
McGlown was also able to get into the Navigational Program, which led to Factory Two, which finally gave him the available space that he needed, as well as the proper tools needed to speed up manufacturing for his craft.
“It was a great program, and mind you it was free of charge for me,” stated McGlown.
The Factory Two project used MEDC’s “Public Spaces Community Places” (PSCP) crowdfunding platform to reach a fundraising goal. The MEDC provided the $50,000 to the project as is their part of the commitment with the PSCP program.
Because of this, McGlown is able to work within a field for which he has “passion” and do something he really loves to do as creator of designs he hasn’t seen others come up with.
“I always was in fashion. I done clothes before learning how to do learning leather bags. When I was incarcerated, it was a craft that was offered in the facility I was in. I took advantage of it…Once I made my first handbag…I wanted to learn more, do more.”
Quentin L. Messer, Jr., CEO of the MEDC. told the Courier that Factory Two gives the community and young people a vision into what’s possible, showing them they have a community standing behind them in support to do big things and have big ideas.
Messer added: “It’s especially important to us to support bold projects in areas that are historically underserved or overlooked, so Factory Two really hit the mark in multiple ways. “
Messer said Miracle McGlown’s success story is an inspiring proof point that anyone and everyone who wants to “Make It In Michigan” can when provided with access to tools, training and a supportive community that will empower the person and those around them to be different and be bold.
Just in the Flint area, MEDC has supported other growth and revitalization like the Mundy Miracle Commons, the YMCA Living Project, the Advanced Manufacturing District of Genesee County, redevelopment of Buick City site, the North Flint food market, and a wide array of small businesses.
“Our 2024 report included: $1.35 million matched, $13.38 million over the program’s lifetime…” explained Messer.
The programs 32 projects in in 2024 and 389 over its lifetime have reached 5,600 patrons within a year and more than 72,900 over its lifetime!
Learn more about https://www.miplace.org/programs/public-spaces-community-places/
