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Home Care In Cedar Falls, IA

Home Care Cedar Falls, IA

They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.

However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic Historic Round Barn gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Cedar Falls, IA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.

In-Home Care Cedar Falls, IA

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The Always Best Care Difference

Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.

Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.

The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.

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“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the”

Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.
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“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose”

I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.
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TESTIMONIALS

“Always Best is OK but doesn’t seem to make up hours very well. When the caregiver is sick, nobody comes. I would think that they need a little more back up than they have right now. They give me a schedule, and billing is paid by Medicaid.”

DouglasJJIWF
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I knew a lady who works for Always Best Health Care that's why I chose it. The caregiver is very good with a very good attitude. They were able to provide the caregiver for myself immediately. She accompanies me to shopping.”

Carol64210350

What is Non-Medical Senior Care in Cedar Falls, IA?

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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.

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When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

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The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

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At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

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Senior Care Cedar Falls, IA

Types of Elderly Care in Cedar Falls, IA

To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:

Personal Care

Personal Care Services

If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.

Common personal care services include assistance with:

  • Eating
  • Mobility Issues
  • Incontinence
  • Bathing
  • Dressing
  • Grooming
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Respite Care Cedar Falls, IA
Home Helper

Home Helper Services

Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.

Common home helper care services include assistance with:

  • Medication Reminders
  • Meal Preparation
  • Pet Care
  • Prescription Refills
  • Morning Wake-Up
  • Walking
  • Reading
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Caregivers Cedar Falls, IA
Companionship Services

Companionship Services

Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Black Hawk Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.

Common companionship services include:

  • Grocery Shopping
  • Transportation to Appointments
  • Nutritional Assistance
  • Conversation
  • Planning Outings
  • Completing Errands
  • Transportation to Community
  • Events and Social Outings
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Home Care Cedar Falls, IA
Respite Care

Respite Care Services

According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Montage or visit Cedar Falls Historical Society, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.

At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.

If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.

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In-Home Care Cedar Falls, IA

Benefits of Home Care in Cedar Falls, IA

Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:

Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.

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Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?

A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.

With the help of elderly care in Cedar Falls, IA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.

Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.

In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Elderly Care Cedar Falls, IA

Affordable Care

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

If your loved one qualifies, Medicaid may help reduce in-home care costs. Review your IA's Medicaid program laws and benefits, and make sure your senior's financial and medical needs meet Medicaid eligibility requirements.
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.
Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.
Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.
Senior Care Cedar Falls, IA

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers.

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Cedar Falls, IA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

Assisted Living Referral Services

While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.

Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.

Respite Care Cedar Falls, IA

At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.

Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:

  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreational Activities
  • Social Outings
  • Emergency Medical Response
  • Medication Monitoring
  • Family Visitation
  • Personal Care
Caregivers Cedar Falls, IA

At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.

Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.

Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:

  • Bickford of Cedar Falls
  • CedarStone Senior Living
  • Windhaven Assisted Living Center
  • Martin Suites - Western Home Communities
  • Oak Park Estates Assisted Living and Memory Care
  • Cedar Falls Health Care Center
Home Care Cedar Falls, IA

For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.

In-Home Care Cedar Falls, IA

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way

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A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive

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Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider

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Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Cedar Falls, IA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

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Elderly Care Cedar Falls, IA

Latest News in Cedar Falls, IA

New diner coming to Cedar Falls Main Street

CEDAR FALLS — Work has begun to bring a new breakfast spot to Main Street.The planned business has ties to a downtown staple and is being named in honor of the area’s locomotive history. Patton Bar & Diner is expected to open next spring at 317 Main St., the former Lotus + Lou storefront.The venture, taken on by Cory Kent and partners Brent Kai, Cole Kent, Jack Ogden and Brian Wingert, is driven by a feeling there are too few options to grab an early morning meal along the city’s main drag.“We...

CEDAR FALLS — Work has begun to bring a new breakfast spot to Main Street.

The planned business has ties to a downtown staple and is being named in honor of the area’s locomotive history. Patton Bar & Diner is expected to open next spring at 317 Main St., the former Lotus + Lou storefront.

The venture, taken on by Cory Kent and partners Brent Kai, Cole Kent, Jack Ogden and Brian Wingert, is driven by a feeling there are too few options to grab an early morning meal along the city’s main drag.

“We hope to go back to that time of the classic diner,” said Kent. “Especially being from Iowa with all the small communities, the diner’s been that place you can go and always count on and will be there 30, 40, 50 years. We want it to be that place where you can comfortably and casually go to grab breakfast but also serve a quick lunch and great dinner with cool main entrees.”

Kent discussed his plans with The Courier alongside Sam Koch, who wears multiple hats and handles business operations at the partners’ other Cedar Falls venture, George’s Local. That restaurant is located in what had once been an auto service station at the corner of Main and East Fourth streets.

Cedar Falls council calls rare special meeting, addresses 12th, Clay intersection concerns

Patton is a reference to the streetcars that first appeared in Cedar Falls in 1897. Gasoline and later electric-powered motor cars made trips between the Iowa State Normal School (now the University of Northern Iowa) and the corner of First and Main Street. They went on to operate between Cedar Falls and Waterloo, according to CedarNet, an electronic historical archive.

Kent used a similar tribute at one of his other restaurants, the Pullman Bar & Diner in Iowa City. The Pullman Company manufactured railroad cars, including dining cars.

The partners, operating as Synergy Investments, also purchased the neighboring storefront at 315 Main St., formerly home to Scratch Cupcakery. Kent said they’re considering another food and drink establishment, but nothing is finalized.

The 2,000-square-foot space for the diner is being gutted and is in the “bare bones” stage of construction. Once finished, Kent expects it to seat 60 to 70 people who can walk in without reservations and be served by the eatery employing about 40.

Customers will find a “shotgun style” layout, a long, skinny, rectangular frame with a counter/bar, booth seating, an open kitchen, nice facade and big front window. The diner will be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Cedar Falls council calls rare special meeting, addresses 12th, Clay intersection concerns

“It will be an old-school, classic diner from the ’60s or ’70s, but we’ll throw in some unexpected fresh twists and a modern, elevated menu,” Kent said. “Maybe some biscuits and gravy with chorizo, fresh-cut scallions or sunny side up eggs.”

Fried chicken and a classic smash burger also are on his mind, along with coffee and freshly squeezed orange juice. There also will be alcoholic drinks like mimosas and bloody Marys along with other cocktails, beers, and wines.

Downtown Cedar Falls patisserie, café moves in next door to BlackHawk Hotel

The menu is still a work in progress, but almost everything will be made from scratch. Executive Chef Jorge Santiago, who leads the kitchen at George’s Local, will also head Patton Bar & Diner. Kent said while they may have small similarities, they’ll have their own identities.

“We’re trying to leave them separate,” he said. “They’ll feel different and we want them to remain true to themselves.”

Northern Iowa vs. Stanford November 24 Tickets & Start Time

The Stanford Cardinal (3-3) play the Northern Iowa Panthers (1-4) at 8:30 PM ET on Friday, November 24, 2023. This contest is available on ESPN+.If you're looking to go to this game in person, head to Ticketmaster to buy your tickets!Northern Iowa vs. Stanford Game InformationWatch college basketball, other live sports and more on Fubo! ...

The Stanford Cardinal (3-3) play the Northern Iowa Panthers (1-4) at 8:30 PM ET on Friday, November 24, 2023. This contest is available on ESPN+.

If you're looking to go to this game in person, head to Ticketmaster to buy your tickets!

Northern Iowa vs. Stanford Game Information

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Fab Finds, a gift shop with a 'little bit of everything,' opens in downtown Cedar Falls

Cedar Falls native Teri Johnson recently opened up her new store, Fab Finds, at 510 State St., Suite B, the former location of the Subculture Skateboards and Disc Golf.“We have fabulous finds. It is exactly what it sounds like,” Johnson said. “There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. I hope people can come in and find something they like at a decent price.”It sits in the same building as Legacy Wellness, right behind the Cedar Falls Public Library and in between E-Clips Hair Studio and Heal...

Cedar Falls native Teri Johnson recently opened up her new store, Fab Finds, at 510 State St., Suite B, the former location of the Subculture Skateboards and Disc Golf.

“We have fabulous finds. It is exactly what it sounds like,” Johnson said. “There’s a little bit of everything for everyone. I hope people can come in and find something they like at a decent price.”

It sits in the same building as Legacy Wellness, right behind the Cedar Falls Public Library and in between E-Clips Hair Studio and HealthCare Revolutions.

“Our store will always be changing and trying to add different things,” she added. “We hope people pass by wondering what might be new every week.”

Johnson came across the smaller spot, less than 600 square feet in size, for her new business when her son, Cole, 16 had been looking for the local skateboard shop and came to realize Subculture Skateboards was no longer open.

“It’s downtown Cedar Falls,” she said about why she picked the spot. “It gets pretty busy.”

It had been a goal of hers to own a shop after working for someone else’s business at several different jobs in the past.

“I wanted to be my own boss and set my own hours,” she said. “I love meeting and talking with people.”

The brick-and-mortar location will sell Bling Boutique by Teri, a craft business she previously operated online and craft shows, as well as lots of clothing, the goods of other nearby vendors and the familiar jewelry offered up by Paparazzi Accessories. She’s engaging in wholesaling and other direct sales, as well.

On the shelves, a customer will find different types of clothing, jewelry, tumblers, keychains, hair accessories, purses, snacks, books, games and movies.

The local vendors include Little Miss Fashionista, Why Woodn’t You? and Patterson Custom. In the future, she hopes to add more children’s clothes, cellphone accessories and magnets.

Local vendors can offer merchandise inside the store for a small fee and percentage of their proceeds. Johnson can be reached either on her Facebook business page, by calling (319) 229-6273 or emailing [email protected].

Her hours of operation are 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Amazon to build distribution facility in Cedar Falls

CEDAR FALLS — Amazon has quietly acquired approximately 9 acres in the Viking Road industrial park in Cedar Falls where it is planning to build a $4 million, 53,230-square-foot distribution center.The multinational technology giant based in Seattle, Wash., received the deed in an Oct. 18 transfer of land from Minneapolis, Minn.-based Ryan Companies, a commercial real estate developer, according to property records.Ryan acquired the land from the city at no cost this summer as part of a package of economic development ince...

CEDAR FALLS — Amazon has quietly acquired approximately 9 acres in the Viking Road industrial park in Cedar Falls where it is planning to build a $4 million, 53,230-square-foot distribution center.

The multinational technology giant based in Seattle, Wash., received the deed in an Oct. 18 transfer of land from Minneapolis, Minn.-based Ryan Companies, a commercial real estate developer, according to property records.

Ryan acquired the land from the city at no cost this summer as part of a package of economic development incentives included in a 50-plus page development agreement.

Andy Moffitt, a vice president of real estate development at Ryan, referred questions to Amazon. A spokesperson for the tech firm, focused on e-commerce, cloud computing, online advertising, digital streaming and artificial intelligence, declined to comment.

Shane Graham, Cedar Falls’ economic development coordinator, previously told the Cedar Falls City Council that the distribution facility would be around 50,000 square feet and noted the site has lots of room for truck delivery and employee parking.

The property is in the freshly minted 200-acre western expansion of the city’s industrial park — meant to attract investment, jobs and increase the city’s tax rolls.

Ryan was the first builder to sign a development agreement with the city in the expanded industrial area. The city acquired the farmland in 2019 and rezoned it the following year to light industrial.

The council unanimously voted Aug. 7 to provide Ryan Companies with lots 12 and 13 in the industrial park expansion.

Ryan still is the developer and has begun work on the site, now owned by Amazon.com Services. Ryan has a history of building facilities for Amazon, one of the “big five” American technology firms along with Alphabet, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft.

The 53,230-square-foot warehouse will be a fraction of the size of Amazon’s largest facilities.

Most construction will be completed within 24 months. New roads and other infrastructure are already in place.

The development agreement includes a five-year tax abatement of 75 percent the first year on the increase in valuation, and 60 percent, 45 percent, 30 percent and 15 percent in the following years before being put back on the tax rolls at full valuation in year six.

Property taxes for just the building are projected to be at least $124,248 annually. The new facility will have a valuation of at least $4 million and $4.75 million including the land.

Will mega-convenience store chains drive out the competition?

Commentary It is a pleasant drive, our journey to work in the morning. We get on North Union Road, a county black top two lane passage, and proceed toward Cedar Falls. For a while, the road runs parallel to the Cedar River, then by a collection of well-maintained residences and finally, as one approaches the intersection of 1st street, cornfields on both sides. You can see how the crops are progressing if you are interested....

Commentary

It is a pleasant drive, our journey to work in the morning. We get on North Union Road, a county black top two lane passage, and proceed toward Cedar Falls. For a while, the road runs parallel to the Cedar River, then by a collection of well-maintained residences and finally, as one approaches the intersection of 1st street, cornfields on both sides. You can see how the crops are progressing if you are interested.

But this writing is not about North Union Road, it is about First Street, which runs from the west to east into the populated areas of the community. Initially, a two-lane road, it quickly turns to four with a turning lane in the middle. The first convenience store you see is called the Big Ten Mart. After the Hudson Road intersection is the Music Station. Then the Metro Mart at the Center Street intersection. All of these are well-established stores, providing a variety of services and products.

If you were an aspiring businessperson, you probably would not think what this stretch of transportation needs is another convenience store, but on the southeast corner of Hudson Road and 1st Street, here comes Casey’s General Stores.

This is not unexpected because that is what Casey’s does. It moves into close proximity with another convenience store and then gradually overtakes them because of the financial resources the large corporation has at its disposal. In this case, it helps that Casey’s has an agreement with Hy-Vee to honor its gas card discount.

Can these other businesses survive Casey’s intrusion? I do not know, but I do not normally bet on the ant when, armed with a fly swatter, it takes on an elephant. Meanwhile, another Iowa convenience store chain, Kum & Go., has been sold to a Utah-based chain called Maverik. More consolidation.

It certainly will not be an economic battle that attracts national attention, but some could argue it should. It reflects a growing nationwide trend, which is the continual accumulation of wealth in the hands of a few.

When U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar ran for president in 2020, I bought her book, but didn’t read it because it was, well, another book by another person running for president and I assumed it promised that the sun would always shine on America. I was wrong.

The book, “Antitrust,” details the history of the battle of taking on monopoly power in the United States. It does trace the long and painful path to the emergence and use of the Sherman Act to fight against the interlocking trusts and the use of monopolies to control the national economy. It details the winning efforts to rein in the power of J. P. Morgan, Andrew Carnegie, William and John D. Rockefeller and others.

While Casey’s is far from a monopoly, we face the same challenges today in many industries. In their new work, “The Big Myth,” Naomi Greskes and Erik Conway detail how much the concentration of money and power have flowed to the chosen few:

“At the level of the whole society: the three million people who make up the wealthiest one percent of Americans are collectively worth more than two hundred and ninety-one million who make up the bottom ninety percent.”

The whole concentration of control by a few companies has brought us down to only four, soon to be three, pharmaceutical companies, three major telecom companies supply 99% of wireless services. Nationally, we now have five book publishers. Much of this has occurred because the leaders of both political parties thought we should be the best friend of big business not the regulator, and that somehow, helped with generous political contributions to both parties, big was better.

Why this is a threat to the American economy and our future growth is, upon reflection, easy to see. The free enterprise system is successful because of competition. If the large, established business can determine who can start or remain in business, prices to consumers rise while ingenuity falls. Those who control the market will and do not feel the need to research, develop better products, and to innovate. The fundamental pillar of a market-driven economy is being removed. There is no desire to build the better mouse trap.

As for me, I will still drive down North Union Road, turn onto 1st Street and head toward Cedar Falls. But national changes will impact the view.

This column was originally published by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

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