Heartland Energy supports Colman-Egan School expansion

A growing student population is bringing new energy to the Colman-Egan School District, and a recent expansion is helping make sure there is room for students to learn, grow and thrive for years to come.

Heartland Energy is supporting the school’s investment through its Growth Incentive Program.

Heartland recently presented Superintendent Scott Hemmer with a check for $11,658 as a rebate on the school’s electric bills in the first year following the expansion.

The school broke ground on a 14,300-squre-foot addition in September 2024 and was ready to welcome students at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. The expansion included a preschool room, six classrooms, flexible learning spaces and a weight room.

The addition was an answer to an influx of students, increasing from an average of 250 to a total of 327 over the course of about five years. The growth is attributed to both families moving into the district and increase in open enrollment, or students who don’t live inside the district but request to become part of it.

For a growing community, an investment in the school can have an impact well beyond the classroom.

“This addition is a great reflection of the growth happening in Colman and the commitment to providing a great place for families to live and raise their children,” said Brooke Rollag, Heartland Energy director of economic development. “We’re proud to support Colman-Egan School as they invest in their students and the future of the community.”

The Growth Incentive Program provides rebates on a portion of electric bills for new and expanding businesses and organizations in Heartland customer communities during the first three years of operation.