Heritage Safe - Grace

Armed with a mechanical engineering degree and an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit, Troy Nielsen began his career in 1992 working at Masland Industries in Carlisle, Pa. There he worked on two large automotive design projects — the 1996 Ford F-Series pickup and the 1996 Ford Taurus.

The desire to own and operate his own business compelled Troy to return home to Grace, Idaho - population 973. He spent the next four months researching the residential safe market and writing a business plan in order to obtain financial backing. In 1993, he launched Heritage Safe Company, which has since propelled itself to the top of the national industry.

Heritage Safe manufactures residential home security safes, focusing primarily on securing guns, jewelry and personal heirlooms. The company is the preferred safe vendor for the three largest shooting sport buying syndicates in the country and has developed a network of over 400 accounts, making it the fourth largest safe manufacturer in the United States.

The Idaho Small Business Development Center has been assisting Nielsen since the early stages of his company’s development. The Center helped prepare the loan application and identify the SBA 504 loan used in conjunction with a First Security Bank loan to help finance Heritage’s new building. In addition, the Idaho SBDC facilitated fire testing of the safe through an agreement with the Idaho Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL).

Through strategic marketing, Heritage Safe has established itself in the national market, conducting 90 percent of its business outside the state of Idaho. Its 40 models come with an impressive list of standard features, as well as an array of security options, and its warranty is recognized as the best in the industry. With a sales team of 42, Heritage Safe expects to reach triple digit growth in 2003 by meeting the markets' demand for superior quality, functionality, and value.

For more information, visit www.heritagesafe.com.