Amanda Payne, President & CEO, AMPLIFY Clearwater

July 2026 — In an interview with Invest:, Amanda Payne, president and CEO of AMPLIFY Clearwater, detailed how the organization leverages its foundation to drive community resilience and inclusive growth. She highlighted Clearwater’s appeal as a business hub and outlined forward-looking initiatives in workforce development. Payne explained that the organization’s strategy is to anticipate and meet the evolving needs of the local business ecosystem. “The pace of change today is unprecedented. We’re focused on staying proactive, thinking ahead, and anticipating business needs as we move forward,” Payne said.

Looking back over the past 12 months, what key changes have impacted AMPLIFY’s mission and outreach?

As with everything, the storms at the end of 2024 created a silver lining of opportunity. We partnered with organizations such as the Philadelphia Phillies, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Glazer Family Foundation and numerous local donors to launch AMPLIFY Hope, a recovery initiative focused on supporting small businesses impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

Over the past year, we have distributed nearly $1.5 million in grants to help local businesses recover and rebuild. One thing many people do not realize is that disaster recovery resources for small businesses are often limited. While homeowners may have access to certain assistance programs, many small businesses are left relying solely on commercial insurance, which frequently contains significant coverage limitations.

The businesses that struggled most were the small, independently owned businesses that define the character of our community. Through grants ranging from $1,500 to $20,000, we helped many of them reopen, retain employees and continue serving Clearwater.

More importantly, AMPLIFY Hope demonstrated what a modern chamber of commerce should be: an organization that identifies community needs, brings partners together and responds when businesses need support the most.

Can you provide updates on AMPLIFY en Español targeting Hispanic business owners?

AMPLIFY en Español operates under our foundation umbrella alongside programs such as AMPLIFY Hope. Several years ago, we recognized the significant and growing Hispanic business community throughout our region. Many Hispanic entrepreneurs have strong business networks of their own but may not always be connected to the broader business community or have access to resources in their preferred language.

Our goal is to ensure those business owners have the same opportunities, resources and connections available to every entrepreneur we serve. By offering programming, networking opportunities and educational resources in Spanish, we have been able to build meaningful relationships and help businesses grow.

Clearwater has a unique connection to Hidalgo, Mexico, and many residents and business owners trace their roots there. That cultural influence is reflected throughout our community and has helped shape the success of this initiative.

How have alumni businesses from your incubator fared, and are there plans to expand the model?

We’ve seen great success. Some participants have sold their businesses, which was their original goal, while others have expanded operations, hired employees, launched new products and services, secured financing or merged with local organizations. These businesses have grown in ways they had not previously imagined.

We also evolved our incubator model. Originally, it was a 10-week program that met once a week in the evenings. We found that many small-business owners struggled to commit to that schedule while balancing family and business responsibilities. Today, we offer a year-long experience that provides the same educational opportunities in a format that allows entrepreneurs to engage at a pace that works for them.

Our goal is to help business owners spend more time working on their businesses, not just in them.

What makes Clearwater attractive for business today?

Clearwater is a great place to do business. For employers looking to relocate or expand, our educational system is a major asset. Pinellas County has highly rated schools and leadership that is committed to early literacy and student success. Preparing students to learn at an early age creates a stronger future workforce, and that investment benefits employers for years to come.

From a quality-of-life perspective, Clearwater offers an exceptional combination of natural beauty, recreation, culture and accessibility. People have the opportunity to live where millions choose to vacation. Combined with a strong workforce and access to the broader Tampa Bay market, it creates an attractive environment for both employers and employees.

We are also seeing increasing interest from businesses looking to relocate to the Tampa Bay region because of the quality of life, talent pool and overall business climate.

How is AMPLIFY approaching workforce development and talent attraction?

We recently launched Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a program designed to identify and develop future business leaders beginning in middle school. Students participate in hands-on experiences where they learn how businesses operate, develop business concepts, interact with local entrepreneurs and gain exposure to careers across multiple industries.

Each year, students participate in a structured program that includes visits to local businesses, mentorship opportunities and entrepreneurial training. Whether these students eventually become business owners or employees, understanding entrepreneurship develops critical thinking, leadership, problem-solving and communication skills that employers increasingly value.

By investing in young people today, we are helping create the workforce and business leaders our region will need tomorrow.

What trends are most noteworthy in your sector, and how are you navigating them?

The concept of a traditional chamber of commerce is evolving rapidly. Today’s businesses expect more than networking events and ribbon cuttings. They are looking for organizations that can help solve problems, create connections, advocate for their interests and provide meaningful resources.

Our growth reflects that evolution. We continue to reach record membership levels despite not having a dedicated membership sales position because businesses are joining for the value we create and the impact they see in the community.

The pace of change today is unprecedented. Our responsibility is to stay proactive, think ahead and anticipate the needs of our business community so we can position our members and our region for long-term success.

What are the biggest challenges facing AMPLIFY and the broader business ecosystem?

Space and redevelopment remain significant challenges. As a peninsula within a peninsula, Pinellas County has limited room for expansion, which requires us to think differently about how land and buildings are utilized.

Workforce housing, transportation infrastructure and resiliency planning continue to be critical issues for employers and communities alike. The challenge is balancing growth and redevelopment while preserving the character and quality of life that make Clearwater special.

Addressing those issues will require collaboration among the business community, local governments and regional partners.

What are your key goals and priorities for AMPLIFY over the next two to three years?

Our goal is to continue strengthening AMPLIFY Clearwater’s role as a regional leader in economic development, business advocacy, entrepreneurship and workforce development.

We see tremendous opportunity to collaborate with neighboring organizations, local governments, educational institutions and state leaders to address regional challenges such as transportation, talent attraction, housing and economic competitiveness.

Tourism will always remain an important component of Clearwater’s economy, but we also want to ensure we are supporting business growth across all sectors. Success will require regional thinking and long-term planning.

Over the next several years, I expect AMPLIFY to play an increasingly active role in shaping those conversations and helping position Clearwater and the Tampa Bay region for future growth.