State of Montana Newsroom
Governor Gianforte Welcomes Olympus Arms to Montana
New gun manufacturing facility represents $50 million investment in Helena, expected to create up to 60 Montana jobs
HELENA, Mont. – Governor Gianforte today cut the ribbon on the Olympus Arms’ firearm manufacturing facility, celebrating the company’s $50 million investment and projected creation of up to 60 good-paying Montana jobs over the next 10 years.
“Founded by a U.S. Army veteran, Olympus Arms recognizes what we know to be true. Montana has a proud Second Amendment heritage, and our state is an ideal place for ammunition and firearms manufacturers to innovate, create, and do business," Gov. Gianforte said. "We’re thrilled with Olympus Arms’ investment in Helena and the good-paying jobs it will create.”
Gov. Gianforte helping cut the ribbon at the Olympus Arms manufacturing facility in Helena
Olympus Arms and its associated companies, Blue Sky Inventors, Inc. and MARS, Inc., focus on innovation, invention, research, development, and partnership to manufacture and distribute firearms and future high-tech products.
U.S. Army veteran, Montana native, and company founder, Michael Merino, is familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of the equipment currently used in the U.S. Army. After serving for over 20 years, Merino sought a way to better equip U.S. military servicemembers, and established Olympus Arms.
“We are thrilled to establish ourselves in the state that we love. We are looking forward to creating career-worthy jobs and opportunities for Montanans. We are especially grateful to Governor Gianforte for his support of our business and industry,” said Merino.
Olympus Arms is the developer of a recoilless, no-gas firearm known as the Vulcan rifle. Named New Firearm of the Year at the 2023 SHOT Show, the Vulcan rifle will be manufactured in Helena at Olympus Arms’ $50 million facility.
Continuing its investment in Helena and Montana, Olympus Arms and its associated entity Blue Sky Inventors, Inc. expect to invest up to $100 million in capital and to employ 150 workers in its research, design, business innovation, and development efforts over the next 10 years to develop state-of-the-art technology.
Similarly, MARS, Inc. intends to develop its own manufacturing, research and development efforts, expecting to invest up to $50 million in capital and employ up to 50 Montanans over the next 10 years.
Montana is home to over 150 innovative firearms and ammunitions businesses, the highest per capita in the country.
To support Montana’s firearms and ammunition businesses, Gov. Gianforte this spring protected both Montanans’ retirement security from Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) investing and Montana’s firearms industry from discrimination.
In his first year in office, the governor made Montana a constitutional carry state and prohibited the enforcement of any federal law, executive order, rule, or regulation that infringes upon ownership, possession, transfer, or use of any firearm, magazine, or firearm accessory in Montana.
###