She will be showcasing that space on Friday. My Glass Wings Stained Glass Studio and Gifts will host an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday at 106 N. 2nd Ave. in downtown Alpena.

Montgomery said she worked with Alpena Downtown Development Authority Executive Director Anne Gentry to secure the grant, which is meant to revitalize spaces to promote business and interaction within the community.

“The Match on Main program is a grant the DDA applies directly for through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation,” Gentry explained. “We see which projects are out there, and then our board selects projects each round.”

“It was intended to revitalize underutilized space,” Montgomery said of the grant.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley Tina Montgomery, owner of My Glass Wings in downtown Alpena, demonstrates how to cut glass with some tools at her shop. An open house will be held Friday.

“We’ve actually been successful with each round of funding,” Gentry said, adding that other downtown businesses have recently received funding for improvements, including Rusty Petunias, JJ’s Catering, and Red Brick Tap and Barrel. “So there are lots of projects that have been funded with this tool.”

My Glass Wings received the grant in December 2022, which required a $2,500 community match. Montgomery explained how the grant has been used and how she looks forward to welcoming the public to her stained glass studio.

“From a small business perspective, I think a lot of these projects don’t happen without grant support,” Gentry said. “With My Glass Wings, getting this grant allowed her to do this project and expansion that she’s wanted to do for a while. These grants are always focused on projects that really contribute to the vibe and the direction of the downtown.”

With the use of the grant money, My Glass Wings now has a handsome workshop area for classes in the back of the retail shop, which had been used solely for storage in the past. Class participants can access the classroom through a back door on the north side of the building that opens into the alley. Windows and carpets have been replaced, and the space is welcoming for students who are looking to learn about working with stained glass.

“We had set up that we had our classroom here, in this area, and we had a very small amount of retail space,” Montgomery stated while standing in what is now the expanded retail shop, which shares a front door with Parallel 45 Books and Gifts on 2nd Avenue. “We carry all the products for doing stained glass and various and assorted pieces.”

Montgomery said the updated space is much more user-friendly now.

“The back area was literally a store room,” she continued. “We’ve set up so that all of our classes are back here, and the way we’ve got the table structured, we’ve got much more room for moving around.”

She said a variety of printed resources are on hand for students to browse, and a computer is available if needed to look up examples of designs.

“This is going to be like a mini education center,” she said. “The way we’ve shifted things around, we can have classes going throughout this entire space at any time without it being an issue.”

Montgomery has owned My Glass Wings for nearly 20 years. She offers classes, repairs, and retail pieces for purchase. Two more stained glass artists also offer classes at My Glass Wings: Alexis Werda and Lynn Beaudoin.

“Having a stained glass studio is so unique for our community, so it’s really exciting to see their space expand,” Gentry added. “It’s a great project. I’m excited to see it come to life.”

Classes are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the afternoon and evening. For more information, call 989-358-9464 or visit www.myglasswings.com, or Facebook.com/MyGlassWings.