Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones
Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
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, sometimes they cannot live independently without someone by their side to provide care. Unfortunately, some 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 in the comforts or their home rather than in an assisted living community. Home care in Hamburg, MN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Since 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they age. We are proud to have helped tens of thousands of seniors to maintain a higher level of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of 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.
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 care services in Hamburg, MN. Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the”
Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.
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TESTIMONIALS
“Always Best Care comes in to help my dad a shower at night. When the guy came out to interview, he was really good and helpful, but it was just hard to find someone to help with dad been a little bit bigger and heavier. They like the person that they had come out a couple of times. The caregiver is good.”
Gloria285054
How does In-home Senior Care in Hamburg, MN work?
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's 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. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
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.
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 ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
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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 or Parkinson's or Alzheimer's.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Eating
Mobility Issues
Incontinence
Bathing
Dressing
Grooming
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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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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 activities and hobbies while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
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 other activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress helps reduce the risks of caregiver burnout.
When it comes to non-medical home care, 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.
Advanced Healthcare Technology
Benefits of Home Care in Hamburg, MN
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.
Age in Place
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
Peace of Mind
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your senior family member is in expert hands.
Socialization
Unlike many senior care facilities where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
Personalized Care Plan
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our care plans are tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for clients 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.
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.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, 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:
Comfort
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, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Hamburg, MN, 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.
Healthy Living
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.
Independence
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 an assisted living community. 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.
Cost and Convenience
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 to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be 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 in Hamburg, MN 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.
Empowers Seniors
Affordable Care Plans
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:
Veteran's Benefits
Attendance and aid benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.
Long-Term Care Insurance
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.
Private Insurance
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.
Life Insurance
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.
During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.
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 Hamburg,MN 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.
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 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:
An assessment of your senior loved one
01
An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home
02
Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs
03
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.
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.
Dane Mizutanihttps://mndaily.com/252883/sports/mens-tennis/gophers-men-women-blow-past-nebraska/
Image by Lisa PerssonThe Gophers men’s tennis team hadn’t played a home match in nearly a month. It was a clear Sunday afternoon, and the team was happy to be home.Minnesota, back at the Baseline Tennis Center for the first time in three weeks, used an impressive performance on the doubles side and a few quick wins in singles to top Nebraska 5-2.“I think the guys were playing aggressive, and we’re doing a pr...
The Gophers men’s tennis team hadn’t played a home match in nearly a month. It was a clear Sunday afternoon, and the team was happy to be home.
Minnesota, back at the Baseline Tennis Center for the first time in three weeks, used an impressive performance on the doubles side and a few quick wins in singles to top Nebraska 5-2.
“I think the guys were playing aggressive, and we’re doing a pretty good job at keeping up good energy,” head coach Geoff Young said. “It was all around a good match for us.”
The Gophers now have two conference wins under their belt after losing their Big Ten opener to Iowa. Minnesota players know the importance of conference wins — which are especially important later in the season.
“Those wins are really big for a possible NCAA bid for us at the end of the year,” junior Leandro Toledo said. “We had a rough start, but we bounced back.”
The Gophers have won four of their last six matches after the loss to the Hawkeyes.
That success has seemed to hinge on the team’s success at doubles. Minnesota has won all four matches in which it’s taken the doubles point to start the match.
“It’s good going into singles knowing we only have to win three matches,” Young said. “We always play to win all matches, though, because if we take our foot off the gas, we know what can happen.”
The Gophers didn’t take their foot off the gas one bit in the win over the Cornhuskers. They got out to an early advantage after they earned the doubles point, and they didn’t look back.
Minnesota left no doubt and put the match away with wins at No. 3 singles, No. 4 singles and No. 2 singles, respectively.
The Gophers got two wins from the bottom half of their lineup, a contrast to the start of the season when the team couldn’t buy a win in those spots.
“It’s been good as of late, but we know those guys can get better,” Young said, “and they’re going to need to be better for us down the stretch.”
Gophers senior Juan Pablo Ramirez won his first match of the season with a 7-6, 6-3 victory at No. 5 singles.
“I was getting a little frustrated with myself,” he said, “so it was really nice to get this first victory under my belt. I’ve been working hard for it.”
Toledo, who lost his match at No. 1 singles, said it was good to see Ramirez get his first win of the season.
Still, he said the team can’t be satisfied at this point in the season.
“We know we’re not perfect,” he said. “We need to get more mental toughness. That’s going to be important toward the end of the season when we are in some big matches.”
Women also top Nebraska
Minnesota’s women’s tennis team followed in the footsteps of the men’s squad with a 4-2 win over Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb., over the weekend.
The Gophers took the doubles point and tacked on three singles wins to come out on top.
Minnesota improved to 13-3 this season and moved to 3-0 in the Big Ten with the win.
Buffalo snow topped 81 inches in 5 days; Twin Cities all-winter average is 51
Paul Huttnerhttps://www.mprnews.org/story/2022/11/22/821-buffalo-exceeds-msp-winter-snowfall-average-by-30-in-5-days
We feel pretty good about handling our snow in Minnesota, but we got nothin’ on Buffalo, N.Y.Buffalo’s extreme five-day snow blitz produced 81.2 inches of snow near Hamburg, N.Y., just south of Buffalo. Orchard Park next door picked up 80 inches.Here's a preliminary 5-day storm total snowfall map for November 16-21, 2022. Thanks to NWS Albany for developing the map, and to the spotters and observers who took snowfall measurements during this historic lak...
We feel pretty good about handling our snow in Minnesota, but we got nothin’ on Buffalo, N.Y.
Buffalo’s extreme five-day snow blitz produced 81.2 inches of snow near Hamburg, N.Y., just south of Buffalo. Orchard Park next door picked up 80 inches.
Here's a preliminary 5-day storm total snowfall map for November 16-21, 2022. Thanks to NWS Albany for developing the map, and to the spotters and observers who took snowfall measurements during this historic lake effect event. pic.twitter.com/0m8twvnn2L
Official state records take time to verify. But it looks like the Hamburg, N.Y., area picked up 72.4 inches of snow in 48 hours. If verified, that would beat New York state’s current two-day snowfall record of 69.3 inches near Highmarket from Jan. 5-6, 1988.
Keeping in mind that all data from this storm are preliminary, reports are still coming in, there is a process for declaring official records, and it is important to make direct comparisons (e.g., comparing two-day snowfall to two-day snowfall and not storm total snowfall), we can make a couple of observations.
The official 24-hour snowfall record for New York stands at 50 inches on February 1, 1966, in Camden. Looking at unofficial data in the Northeast Regional Climate Center’s database, currently the greatest daily report from this storm was 46.2 inches near Elma on November 19.
The Northeast Regional Climate Center’s database shows that the greatest unofficial two-day snowfall in New York was 69.3 inches from January 5-6, 1988, at near Highmarket. The CoCoRaHS website currently shows a preliminary two-day snowfall total of 72.4 inches for November 18 to 19 near Hamburg.
The Northeast Regional Climate Center’s database shows that the greatest unofficial three-day snowfall in New York was 86.5 inches from November 18 to 20, 2014, near East Aurora. The CoCoRaHS website currently shows a preliminary three-day snowfall total of 76.0 inches for November 18 to 20 near Hamburg.
Overnight here at the NWS Buffalo office saw 17.2 inches of snow. Adding this to the 13.0 inches that fell Thursday night into Friday morning we now have a storm total of 30.2 inches! Here is a picture of our parking lot this morning... pic.twitter.com/E7InkWYcI4
Just for some perspective, the 30-year annual average snowfall in the Twin Cities is 51.2 inches.
So areas south of Buffalo picked up 30 inches more snow than an average winter in the Twin Cities. In five days.
Just for a little perspective. Hamburg, NY got 81.2" of snow with the #BuffaloStorm2022 ??That's 30 inches more than the MSP annual snowfall average of 51.2"! #mnwxhttps://t.co/gkRAvnl5sP
As Americans fire up their barbecues to celebrate the 4th of July, those grilling in Minnesota will be paying a slight premium for their home-cooked hamburgers. They’ll shell out $2.74 per burger, on average, while Texas residents will only pay an average of $2.32 per sandwich.That’s according to new data from deal site Simple Thrifty Living, which found the ...
As Americans fire up their barbecues to celebrate the 4th of July, those grilling in Minnesota will be paying a slight premium for their home-cooked hamburgers. They’ll shell out $2.74 per burger, on average, while Texas residents will only pay an average of $2.32 per sandwich.
That’s according to new data from deal site Simple Thrifty Living, which found the average cost of a burger in every U.S. state by comparing local prices from national or regional retailers for 85% lean/15% fat ground beef, hamburger buns, Heinz ketchup, French’s mustard, Hellmann’s mayo, a sweet onion, a tomato, pickles and lettuce. Here are the proportions of each the site used to represent a standard burger:
Ingredients cost the most in Hawaii, where a single burger adds up to $2.75. They’re more than 50 cents cheaper in Arizona, where each burger runs an average of $2.16.
How does your state stack up? Check out the map and full list below.
The Day a Minnesota Flight Instructor Was a Better Detective than the FBI
William M. Arkinhttps://www.newsweek.com/day-minnesota-flight-instructor-was-better-detective-fbi-1616401
In this series, Newsweek maps the road to 9/11 as it happened 20 years ago, day by day.On August 11, Zacarias Moussaoui and his roommate Hussein al-Attas arrived in Eagan, Minnesota, where Moussaoui had already enrolled in the Pan Am International Flight Academy, paying $6,300 in cash for the balance he owed for simulation training.Many later considered Moussaoui the "20th" 9/11 hijacker. Though he had contact with and received money from Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, one of the Hamburg four and the ma...
In this series, Newsweek maps the road to 9/11 as it happened 20 years ago, day by day.
On August 11, Zacarias Moussaoui and his roommate Hussein al-Attas arrived in Eagan, Minnesota, where Moussaoui had already enrolled in the Pan Am International Flight Academy, paying $6,300 in cash for the balance he owed for simulation training.
Many later considered Moussaoui the "20th" 9/11 hijacker. Though he had contact with and received money from Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, one of the Hamburg four and the main interlocutor between al Qaeda and operatives in the U.S., there is no evidence he ever crossed paths with the other 9/11 hijackers nor was he intended for the September 11th attack. He is, in fact, the best evidence that al Qaeda's intended (and perhaps even had plans) to mount additional attacks in the United States, as authorities later learned of numerous other terrorists who sought entry to the United States before 9/11.
Moussaoui's is another tragic 9/11 failure and missed opportunity: his arrest did not create panic within the government of the possibility of an imminent attack. Nor did it focus the FBI or the intelligence community on airplanes as a mode of attack. Maybe it was the summer, maybe it was the Minneapolis field office and its inexperience with international terrorists. But as Moussaoui's case moved to Washington, and FBI and CIA headquarters, no one recognized the gravity of the threat.
Moussaoui, a French national of Moroccan descent, first arrived in the U.S. on February 23 in Chicago, flying on to Norman, Oklahoma, to attend flight school (the same flight school that Mohammed Atta and Marwan al-Shehhi visited but turned down). Prior to entering the U.S., he lived in the U.K., obtaining a master's degree from South Bank University in London. In April 1998, Moussaoui attended training at the al Qaeda Khalden Camp in Afghanistan and then returned again in December 2000, evidently leaving with his assignment. He returned to the U.K. in February 2001 and then went on to America to learn to fly.
Moussaoui attended the Airman Flight School in Norman between February 26 and May 29. Inexplicably, he left before finishing his course (or receiving a pilot's license) and transferred to the Pan Am Academy to take a simulator course in commercial flight training. Moussaoui began training in Minnesota on August 13 on a Boeing 747 simulator.
Two days later, an instructor at Pan Am called the FBI's Minneapolis Field Office because he and other employees were suspicious of Moussaoui. The French Moroccan met none of the usual qualifications for Pan Am students. Moussaoui also told his instructor that he had no intention of obtaining a pilot's license and had no other goal, and that he wanted merely to learn how to fly a plane but not how to take off or land. The flight school immediately recognized that something was amiss. Moussaoui was arrested on immigration charges on August 16.
But the FBI? What followed was three weeks of missteps, poor judgment, bad advice, lack of attention, and just incompetence that botched one of the most prominent possibilities for uncovering the attack.
Follow the Newsweek live tweet of September 11, 2001 (based upon the new book On That Day) starting at 4:45 a.m. EST @Roadto911.
Europe seen as growth hotspot for Minnesota companies
Minnesota exports to Europe fell slightly last year, but not enough to dampen prospects for a region that state officials said Thursday remains one of the most promising trade destinations for the state’s companies.The Minnesota Trade Office brought business representatives from across Europe to downtown Minneapolis to meet with local business leaders and discuss growth opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.Last year, Minnesota companies last year sent $4.6 billion in goods to European countries, down 2 percent from...
Minnesota exports to Europe fell slightly last year, but not enough to dampen prospects for a region that state officials said Thursday remains one of the most promising trade destinations for the state’s companies.
The Minnesota Trade Office brought business representatives from across Europe to downtown Minneapolis to meet with local business leaders and discuss growth opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.
Last year, Minnesota companies last year sent $4.6 billion in goods to European countries, down 2 percent from 2014 but roughly on pace with rates during the past half-decade or so. Around $27 billion in exports from the state reached Europe over the past five years, according to state figures.
Despite a strong dollar that has bogged down trade for U.S. companies in the past year, and even as the European economy strains against a global slowdown, state officials say prospects for increased transatlantic export activity by Minnesota businesses remain bright.
“We need to celebrate how much bigger and better Europe has become in just the last few decades,” said Steve Riedel, an international trade representative for the state. “It’s pretty clear what a powerful partner the [European Union] especially is to Minnesota. It’s really quite impressive.”
European countries, particularly in the west-central part of the region, have some of the world’s most sought-after markets. Several of them are widely considered to be among the most business-friendly nations.
Plus, wealth across the region provides a cash-flush customer base and the growth opportunities that come with it, said Jake Slegers, the outgoing chairman of the European Council of American Chambers of Commerce, a network of business advocacy groups operating across Europe.
“[Europe] is a critical source of global profits for U.S. firms,” he said, especially when they lay down roots overseas. “U.S. foreign affiliates in Europe have been agents of growth in virtually every industry they operate in.”
Many marquee Minnesota companies already have outposts and customers in Europe. Maplewood-based 3M Co., Little Canada-based St. Jude Medical, and Medtronic, whose operational headquarters is in Fridley, serve as some of the most prominent ambassadors for the state. But there’s room for smaller companies, too.
Minneapolis-based software and consulting firm MentorMate, founded in 2001 by Swedish immigrant Bjorn Stansvik, is anchored in the Midwest but has gradually expanded its operations into four Bulgarian cities. It has also picked up clients in the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Sweden.
The company now has about 400 employees across the globe, but it still doesn’t have the cachet of a massive multinational. Stansvik said overseas growth comes down to a scrappy approach to building connections and generating interest.
“It would be easier to just ride over to Illinois and get another client there. We can grow plenty in the U.S.,” he said.
But Europe carries extra upside, even if penetrating that marketplace requires more work. By leveraging its expertise in navigating the U.S. market, MentorMate can generate a bigger payoff with customers elsewhere, Stansvik said.
“In Sweden, we can punch a bit above our weight,” he said.
To help companies – especially small and mid-sized outfits – set up shop overseas, the Minnesota Trade Office in 2013 set up an office in Dusseldorf, Germany. The country is the state’s top export market in Europe, and one of its largest foreign investors.
In addition to propelling more local goods into European markets, the office has primed other investments. Riedel declined to give details, but said a “significant transportation machinery manufacturing company” from Germany is now likely to set up shop in Minnesota.
K. John Pournoor, who works in international government affairs and markets for 3M, recognized his company as a high-profile success story in Europe. But he said suppliers of all sizes, and from a range of industries, have a platform for growth.
Several of the highest-demand markets in Europe, as determined by the federal government, align with Minnesota’s strongest industries. European buyers want medical technology and machinery – two strongholds in the state’s manufacturing sector – plus telecom equipment and energy products.
In addition, infrastructure upgrades in high demand in several European countries offer a gateway for Minnesota outfits – companies that produce components for rail systems and roadways, for example – to cash in, Pournoor said.
Renewable energy and water quality are also in focus in Europe, where solar farms dot the southern part of the region and wind farms sit to the north. Aggressive energy investment and renewables goals in Europe’s most developed countries underscore real demand for the equipment, components and technology to achieve them.
“In Europe, it is not a novelty,” Pournoor said. “It’s a strategic part of what Europeans are investing in.”
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