[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 17, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S142-S143]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             RECOGNIZING WELTER STORAGE EQUIPMENT CO., INC.

  Ms. ERNST. Madam President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee 
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an 
outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize 
Welter Storage Equipment Co., Inc., of Monticello, IA, as the Senate 
Small Business of the Week.
  Welter Storage Equipment was founded by Lloyd and Joyce Welter in 
1982 on their family farm in Monticello during the farm crisis of the 
1980s. The farm crisis affected thousands of farmers and farming 
communities in Iowa, and many farmers had to find alternate forms of 
income to support themselves. Before launching Welter Storage

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Equipment, Lloyd served in the U.S. Army from 1956 until 1958. 
Following his service, Lloyd saw a need in the Monticello community for 
shelving, pallet racks, and storage equipment. What began as an idea 
around the kitchen table grew, and in 1987, Welter Storage Equipment 
moved off the Welter family farm to its current headquarters location 
on South Main Street in Monticello.
  Welter Storage Equipment sells both new and reconditioned warehouse 
equipment and office furniture acquired through auctions, liquidations, 
bankruptcies, closeouts, and more. They also provide storage equipment 
and forklifts. Over the years, Welter Storage Equipment has become a 
trusted local resource for office furniture and warehouse racks. The 
business is not only a community staple, but now sells products to 
customers across the United States.
  Currently, the Welter Storage Equipment team operates in Cedar 
Rapids, Dubuque, and Monticello, with their Monticello location serving 
as the company's headquarters. Lloyd and Joyce's sons Ron, Dave, Dean, 
and Bob serve as the current owners and have seen three generations of 
the Welter family work at the family business. Lloyd Welter passed away 
in 2021, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, service, and dedication 
to entrepreneurial excellence.
  Welter Storage Equipment is actively involved in the Monticello, 
Dubuque, and Cedar Rapids communities. In addition to employing more 
than 60 people, they have sponsored the Great Jones County Fair and 
have served as a business partner to the Dubuque Senior High School 
Drama Department. They were named a 2023 Business Hero by Animal 
Welfare Friends, a nonprofit that aims for the adoption and fostering 
of dogs and cats in the Monticello area. Due to the team's hard work, 
Welter Storage Equipment Company celebrated its 41st business 
anniversary in 2023.
  Welter Storage Equipment's commitment to providing quality office, 
storage equipment, and furniture in Eastern Iowa is clear. I want to 
congratulate the Welter family and the entire team at Welter Storage 
Equipment for their dedication to the Monticello, Cedar Rapids, and 
Dubuque communities. I look forward to seeing their continued growth 
and success in Iowa.

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