What would happen if the next wave of economic growth did not come from a massive corporation moving into town, but from the entrepreneurs already living there?
That question sits at the heart of my conversation with Tom Stansbury, founder of StartUp America, on the 2000 Cubit Rule podcast. Tom has a unique blend of experience, startup leadership, marketplace discipleship, and a real-world burden for cities that have been written off. His current focus is Petersburg, Virginia, a place many people describe with heavy language, yet a place Tom believes can become a living case study in restoration through entrepreneurship.
This is not a hype story. It’s a blueprint level conversation about what happens when faith meets leadership, suffering produces surrender, and local business becomes a tool for rebuilding communities.
Why big “economic development” often misses the local people
Tom shared something that hits hard if you’ve watched your region chase “the big win” over and over.
Many cities compete to attract large employers to bring jobs. That sounds great on paper, but the reality is often messy:
- Jobs don’t always go to local residents.
- Workforce readiness gaps keep communities from benefiting.
- Incentive-driven deals can fade as fast as they arrive.
- Local small businesses stay stuck on the sidelines.
That’s why Tom is passionate about a bottom-up approach. Instead of waiting for the perfect outside solution, you build from within by helping local entrepreneurs launch and grow small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It is slower than a headline-grabbing announcement, but it’s sturdier, because it creates ownership, skills, leadership, and long-term economic resilience.
A bottom-up model: SMEs as the engine of city transformation
At the center of Tom’s work is a practical conviction: entrepreneurship is one of the most effective ways to restore the economic well being of a city and region.
Here’s why SMEs matter so much:
- They keep money circulating locally.
- They create jobs that fit local realities.
- They produce leaders, not just employees.
- They multiply opportunity through relationships and mentorship.
Tom’s vision for “Startup America” is not simply a program. It’s a localized movement of entrepreneurs, community leaders, and support structures that make it easier for founders to start, survive, and scale.
If you care about discipleship in the marketplace, this matters, because building businesses also forms people. The marketplace has more hours than a Sunday service, and it shapes identity, character, courage, and stewardship.
The part most people skip: transformation starts in the leader
One of the most gripping pieces of Tom’s story is not the business background, it’s the personal awakening that came through suffering.
Tom nearly died from COVID and described it as a moment of deep surrender. When you are staring at mortality, you stop negotiating with God. You stop managing perception. You face what is real in you.
That kind of moment often produces two outcomes: hardening or humility. Tom describes it as a turning point, where life became less about building a name and more about radiating God’s glory through obedience.
For Christian entrepreneurs, this is not a side note. It is the foundation.
If I can say it plainly, your business will never outrun your formation. Growth amplifies whatever is already in the leader. If pride is driving, success becomes dangerous. If surrender is driving, success becomes a tool.
Discipleship in the marketplace is not a slogan
Tom’s earliest formation came through discipleship that included business. Not “business is evil” thinking, and not “money is the mission” thinking. Something better: business as a training ground for leadership and responsibility.
This is a core theme at SheepFeast too. We are not here just to hand someone software. We care about helping Christian entrepreneurs operate with integrity, clarity, and consistency. Discipleship shows up in follow-through, in how we communicate, in how we serve customers, in how we steward relationships, and in how we lead people.
That’s why systems matter. Not because they are flashy, but because they help you live aligned when life gets busy.
Where AI fits, and why discipline matters more than ever
Tom also touched on something every founder needs to hear: AI is changing the landscape fast. Tools are multiplying. Opportunities are expanding. But the winners will not be the ones who collect the most tools. They will be the ones who build the best operating rhythm.
AI can accelerate:
- content creation
- outreach and follow-up
- customer support
- donor and community engagement
- research and strategy
But without discipline, AI just helps you move faster in the wrong direction.
This is why a consolidated platform and a disciplined workflow is becoming a competitive advantage. If your contacts are scattered, your follow-up is inconsistent, and your communication is random, AI does not solve the root issue. It just automates confusion.
The Petersburg lesson: breathe life where others see decline
Petersburg is a powerful choice for this kind of pilot, because it’s the kind of city many people have stopped believing in.
Tom described high poverty, high crime, and the stigma of being “written off.” Yet he also described open doors, partnerships forming, and moments of spiritual confirmation that reinforced the call.
That’s what gets my attention. God often chooses places people overlook, because it removes the temptation to take the credit.
If a city like that can experience renewal through entrepreneurs, it becomes a story that strengthens faith in other regions too. It becomes proof that restoration is possible, not just inspirational.
Practical takeaways for Christian entrepreneurs and city leaders
If you want to apply this conversation to your world, here are a few starting points:
- Start local, start small, start real.
Don’t wait for a giant breakthrough, begin building momentum with one founder, one business, one community partnership. - Build a “truth-telling” circle.
Tom emphasized accountability and correction. You need people who love you enough to tell you the truth. - Choose systems that protect your calling.
Clarity and consistency are spiritual decisions, not just operational ones. - Treat entrepreneurship as leadership development.
New businesses are not just economic units, they are leadership factories. - Follow God’s presence, then plan from there.
Planning is wise. Holding plans loosely is wiser.
Want to connect with Tom, or simplify your own business systems?
Tom’s best point of contact right now is LinkedIn, and you can also keep an eye on StartupAmerica.tv as it develops.
And if you’re a Christian entrepreneur trying to simplify your tech stack (CRM, communication, marketing), so you stop dropping opportunities and start building consistent relationships, SheepFeast is here to serve you. The goal is simple: fewer things falling through the cracks, more clarity, and a business that reflects the King.
FAQs
How do small businesses help economic development?
Small businesses create local jobs, circulate money in the community, and develop leaders who invest long-term in the region.
What is a bottom-up approach to economic development?
It focuses on empowering local entrepreneurs and SMEs to launch and grow, rather than relying primarily on recruiting large outside employers.
Why is marketplace discipleship important?
Workplaces shape people daily. Discipleship in the marketplace helps leaders live out faith through integrity, stewardship, and service where they spend most of their time.
How can AI help entrepreneurs without creating chaos?
AI works best when paired with a disciplined system, clear processes, and consolidated tools, otherwise it can automate disorganization.