MIDDLEBORO, Ky., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Heartland, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: HTLJ), a diversified company with businesses in steel warehousing and fabrication and petroleum retail and wholesale operations, today announced that Heartland Steel, the company's steel warehousing subsidiary, has received a commitment to purchase steel to be used in a significant public works project in the Mid-West. The value of the new business is approximately $500,000.

"Both infrastructure improvements and new projects present tremendous opportunities for our company," said Randy W. Frevert, President of Heartland Steel. "This order represents only the first phase of construction; and we continue to pursue and bid on other similar projects in our markets."

"I continue to be encouraged by the fast start of Heartland Steel, despite a challenging economic environment," said Terry Lee, Chairman and CEO of Heartland, Inc. "It reflects the fine work of a team of dedicated employees and validates our decision to establish this business and build our facility at a centralized location within a market where there is both the need and the potential for solid growth."

About Heartland, Inc.

Heartland, Inc. is a diversified company with businesses in steel warehousing and fabrication and petroleum retail and wholesale operations. Mound Technologies is a full service structural and miscellaneous steel fabricator located in Springboro, Ohio. Lee Oil Company services and sells over 40 million gallons of petroleum product annually through a combination of retail and wholesale operations. Heartland Steel, Inc. is a new venture which operates a structural steel service center in Washington Court House, Ohio.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this news release, which are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements, as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Amounts herein could vary as a result of market and other factors. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors, which include, but are not limited to, factors discussed in documents filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

SOURCE Heartland, Inc.