FRI AM News: WisBusiness: the Podcast with Scott Marshall, Community Smiles Dental; Lawsuit filed against procurement program that gives preference to minority-owned businesses

July 10, 2026

— This week’s episode of “WisBusiness: the Podcast” is with Scott Marshall, CEO of Community Smiles Dental.

The dental care provider has locations in Waukesha and Menomonee Falls, where it serves children, low-income families, patients with special needs and others. Marshall discusses the impact of the nonprofit’s work, as well as plans for future growth.

While the nonprofit last year saw just under 5,000 patients, Marshall says the need is much greater.

“There are tens of thousands of kids in southeast Wisconsin specifically, and much more than that across the state, who have Medicaid as their insurance,” he said. “Medicaid requires reimbursement to a provider like a doctor or dentist, etcetera, and in Wisconsin that reimbursement number is pretty [low] compared to other states.”

For-profit corporate dentistry or family dentists often “can’t afford to take on these Medicaid patients” as they would be losing money for each one they see, Marshall explained.

“We’re happy to step up and do it, we really do fill that gap here in southeast Wisconsin, and the way we’re able to do it is because as a nonprofit, we fundraise and we make up the difference,” he said.

About half of the patients at the Menomonee Falls clinic have been coming from the Milwaukee area, he noted, prompting plans for further expansion. At the same time, the nonprofit had patients coming from 17 counties around the state.

“That tells a lot about the need, but it also tells a lot about the limitations of the care that’s available to people that have these needs,” he said.

Community Smiles Dental is planning to open another clinic in Milwaukee with 12 operatories, doubling its current capacity for how many patients can be seen. It will be located centrally near bus lines, with plans to open in 2027. The nonprofit is currently targeting an $8 million fundraise to support the effort.

“We need to go where the need is,” Marshall said.

Listen to the podcast here and see the full list of WisBusiness podcasts.

— A group of taxpayers represented by the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty has filed suit challenging a state procurement program that gives minority-owned businesses a preference in winning contracts.

The lawsuit, filed this week in Waukesha County, cites a state Supreme Court ruling this summer that struck down a state program that provided scholarships to minority students. It also cited U.S. Supreme Court rulings in arguing that the Supplier Diversity program can’t meet the standards that allow race to be considered. That includes remediating specific instances of past discrimination.

The Supplier Diversity Program certifies businesses owned by minorities, disabled veterans and women to boost their opportunities of winning contracts with the state. The state has a goal of achieving 5% of its purchases with minority-owned businesses and 1% with those owned by disabled veterans.

The program covers contracts that range from engineering services to highway construction and general procurement.

“The program should be open to all businesses, regardless of race, and taxpayers should not be forced to fund this odious and invidious race discrimination,” the suit filed on behalf of the Citizens Defending Liberty argued.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Citizens Defending Liberty, argues the preference given to minority-owned businesses is unconstitutional. It seeks an injunction barring the program giving preference to minority-owned businesses going forward.

WILL attorney Dan Lennington telegraphed the challenge when he listed the program as a target after the state Supreme Court ruling on the minority scholarship program. He also called for people interested in being plaintiffs on challenges to race-based scholarships at UW, equity drug treatment and health equity grants, among others.

— WARF is touting a new method for preventing or reducing the rate of type 1 diabetes in children by supplementing their diets.

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation calls the innovation a top licensing prospect in its healthcare portfolio of UW-Madison research. It was created by Michael MacDonald, a scientist affiliated with the university’s Department of Pediatrics.

He identified several naturally occurring molecules that can be given to infants between 4 and 6 months of age who are at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The molecules modify insulin to keep the patient’s immune system from recognizing the protein as foreign, according to WARF’s overview.

When delivered at this key developmental stage, the supplement “should prevent the destruction of the pancreatic cells” in children, reducing their likelihood of having the life-changing condition, the group says.

In the patent application for the supplement, authors noted the burden involved with caring for a child with type 1 diabetes, as they can no longer produce insulin — a critical substance for the body to function. Kids with this condition need daily insulin administered to keep their blood sugar at normal levels, as well as frequent blood testing.

The scientists noted maintaining normal regulation of blood sugar in these children “is still imperfect and laborious” for their families.

“While methods of diabetes management are well established, there are no established methods to prevent or reduce the rate of type 1 diabetes, particularly in children,” they wrote.

WARF says MacDonald also created a synthetic insulin analog to prevent the condition, which can achieve similar results.

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— Consumer products manufacturer Hoffmaster Group can earn up to $1 million in state performance-based tax credits for a planned $65 million expansion of its operations in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. this week announced the company’s capital investment plan, which is expected to create 100 jobs.

The project includes acquiring adjacent land to its existing facility in Clintonville and building a 86,000-square-foot expansion, according to details from the state agency. The facility makes paper plates, napkins, table covers and baking paper.

The Oshkosh-based company can earn the tax credits for the project by hitting targets for job creation and capital investment in the state.

“As we continue to invest in our operations, we remain committed to responsibly sourced materials, efficient manufacturing processes, and environmental stewardship,” Hoffmaster CEO Craig Cappel said in a statement.

Land acquisition and the planned building expansion are being funded by Gladstone Commercial Corporation through a long-term lease extension with Hoffman. Construction firm Keller Inc. plans to start work this month and wrap up by spring 2027.

See the release.

— WEDC is providing $250,000 in grant funding for a $1.4 million renovation project at Long Cheng Marketplace in Appleton.

The marketplace and small business hub was created to serve immigrants, refugees and other underserved entrepreneurs, with a focus on communities with roots in southeast Asia. Many of the vendors leasing space at the market are first-generation business owners and face challenges related to language barriers and capital access.

Elements of the renovation project include improving accessibility, improving common areas within the space and setting the stage for future upgrades, according WEDC. Other planned improvements include upgrading the parking lot, renovating event space and more.

See the release.

— Five Wisconsin cities are getting $2.3 million in grant funding through the Lift Bridge Aids program, supporting maintenance of 10 bridges across the state.

Gov. Tony Evers yesterday announced the grant funding for Menasha, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Manitowoc and Racine. They’re being reimbursed for the cost of maintaining and operating lift bridges, which raise up part of the roadway to allow tall ships to pass into Wisconsin’s ports.

See the release.

— The state chapter of the National Federal of Independent Business has issued its latest biennial voting record, scoring lawmakers in Wisconsin for their small business support through legislative actions.

NFIB Wisconsin yesterday announced the report, detailing “key votes” on issues deemed important to the small business community such as regulation and taxes. The group cautions its list doesn’t account for the in-committee support lawmakers have signaled for small businesses.

“Providing meaningful tax relief, making health care more affordable, and giving voters a choice in stopping a 400-year property tax increase, these exceptional lawmakers have given small businesses a much-needed boost to grow and further invest in our communities,” NFIB Wisconsin State Director Luke Bacher said in a statement.

See the release.

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