Small Business Helps Virginians Protect the Environment, One Petroleum Tank At A Time

After watching their parents navigate the frustrating process of working with contractors, regulators, and suppliers to remove and replace underground tanks at their general store, brothers John and Matthew Stump saw an opportunity. In 2007, they launched Hill Top Contractors, a Roanoke, Va.-based business specializing in storage tank removal, installation, and environmental remediation.

Hill Top has grown into a thriving business, helping homeowners and businesses across western Virginia safely handle oil tanks and mitigate associated environmental hazards. Hill Top staff have removed over 800 tanks and cleaned up more than 300 basement petroleum spills. “I look at us as micro water protectors,” John says. “Nobody wants to go fishing in a stream with petroleum in it or drink it from their wells.”

Digital tools help power Hill Top’s success. Their Google Business Profile — the box of information that shows hours, reviews, photos, and a map when you search for a business — helps customers in the area find them. Data-powered ads also help them reach the right customers. “These tools make it easier for us to connect with people who need our services,” John says. Hill Top has also started using AI-powered tools to help run the business more efficiently.

That’s why John traveled to Washington, D.C. this year to meet with lawmakers and explain how small businesses leverage digital tools to reach customers and streamline operations. He warned that proposals like the AMERICA Act or poorly designed AI regulations could make these vital tools less effective or more difficult to use, creating real challenges for small businesses. “We need lawmakers to protect access to the digital tools that allow us to serve our communities every day,” John explains.

Learn more about Hill Top Contractors: https://www.hilltopcontractors.org/