[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 149 (Tuesday, September 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING DUSTED CHARM

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. 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 
Dusted Charm of Council Bluffs, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week.
  In 2017, Becca Wiggins' world was turned upside down when her 
daughter Maisy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 1. She 
left her job to care for Maisy and began to sell various graphic t-
shirt styles out of her basement. Before she knew it, Becca was seeing 
a profit that she knew meant there was a demand for her products. Becca 
expanded her business, and in 2018, she and her family opened Dusted 
Charm. The business is located on the historic 100-block of West 
Broadway, where the team transformed an old clothing shop into Dusted 
Charm's warehouse and showroom. They now offer a wide range of women's 
clothing and home decor, including signs, candles, and pillows. In 
2020, Becca and her team launched a Dusted Charm app that allowed them 
to expand nationally. With their newfound success, this summer Becca 
opened a second store, Shop The Outskirts, on Main Street in Underwood, 
IA.
  Dusted Charm was inspired by the gravel roads and street signs that 
Becca and her family passed on their drives to Maisy's treatments in 
Chicago. Becca's mother Tracy and sisters Rachel and Sara are part 
owners of the business, handling various aspects of it. The family has 
dedicated their time to make this business truly a family-owned and 
operated business that centers around giving back to the community that 
supported them through Maisy's health crisis.
  Dusted Charm is deeply involved with the Council Bluffs community. 
Becca, inspired by the support her family received after Maisy's 
diagnosis, cofounded Maisy and Marley's Purpose, a nonprofit 
organization that aims to bridge financial gaps for families during a 
critical medical diagnosis, a time of loss, or equipment needs. Maisy 
and Marley's Purpose raises funds for various projects, such as 
mortgage payments, constructing an inclusive playground, and acquiring 
service dogs. To further give back to the community, 8 months out of 
the year, Dusted Charm organizes ``Give Back'' days where they donate 
25 percent of all sales to a designated charity. The focus of each 
charity is different, ranging from local sports teams to the Women's 
Fund of Southwest Iowa. In 2022, Dusted Charm was honored with the 
Omaha Metropolitan Area Tourism Award as the best retail business in 
Pottawattamie County.
  Dusted Charm has quickly become a staple in Pottawattamie County due 
to its community outreach and desire to give back. I want to 
congratulate this family and the team at Dusted Charm for their 
commitment to the communities of southwest Iowa. I look forward to 
witnessing their continued growth and positive impact in Iowa.

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