Today, the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah) are pleased to announce that Mountain Billy Gun plans to bring 25 new, high-paying jobs and invest nearly $3 million in rural Utah over the next 5 years.

“Utah is renowned for its beautiful landscapes and draws outdoor enthusiasts from far and wide,” said Ryan Starks, executive director of the Governor's Office of Economic Opportunity. “With outdoor recreation having a central role in Utah culture, we think this growing company will find a welcoming home in Heber Valley.”

As avid hunters, gun enthusiasts, and Second Amendment advocates, founders Eric and Heidi spent the last 30 years working in the firearms industry. Their combined love of shooting activities and need for survival preparations for off-the-grid adventures created a brand of lightweight, compact guns that fire quickly and effectively. Mountain Billy Gun Lab products are tailored for activities from hunting small game and recreating with friends to survival camping.

“Our family has operated a machine shop in Illinois for the past 80 years, and when developing this brand, we had many reasons to operate elsewhere,” said Heidi Schaefer, co-founder of Mountain Billy Gun Lab. “My brother and co-founder, Eric Schmid, resides in Park City and has commuted back and forth to Chicago for the past 12 years. He loves Utah for its landscape, cost of living, and his experience raising his family. Our focus is to grow a business in a state that is gun-friendly, has growth opportunities, and provides a great work/life balance for employees. Utah provides all of that and more, and we could not be more excited to bring Mountain Billy Gun Lab to Heber Valley.” 

“Utah is home to world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, as well as a thriving industry for outdoor products,” said Scott Cuthbertson, president and CEO of EDCUtah.  “We look forward to seeing the growth and success of this family-owned business in Heber Valley.”

“Heber Valley feels honored that, after an extensive nationwide search, Mountain Billy Gun Lab chose to come to our community,” said Dallin Koecher, executive director at Heber Valley tourism, economic development, and Chamber of Commerce. “They will bring great jobs to the valley, and we look forward to working with them as they expand in the future. We welcome Mountain Billy Gun Lab to Heber Valley!”‍

Katherine Morrell-Moser, senior business development manager, led Project Wasp for EDCUtah.

EDCUtah Investors: If you were involved with this project and would like to have your organization mentioned, please email connect@edcutah.org and we’ll update this article.