The Louisiana Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) offers an 80% property tax abatement for up to 10 years on a manufacturer’s new investment. The program is open to manufacturers new to Louisiana and to existing manufacturers in Louisiana making new investments to existing facilities.

Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Program (DM)—one of the strongest of its kind in the nation—helps innovative digital media and software development companies of all sizes gain a competitive edge. DM provides a 25% tax credit on qualified payroll for resident labor and 18% for qualified production expenditures. If the amount of tax credits exceeds the business’ state income tax liabilities, the business receives the balance as a refund or applicants can opt for 85% of the value earned as a rebate any time during the year.

Louisiana’s Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit encourages existing businesses with operating facilities in Louisiana to establish or continue research and development activities within the state by providing up to a 30% tax credit on qualified research expenditures incurred in Louisiana, with no minimum spending requirement.

Opportunity Zones are a community development program established by Congress in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. This federal capital gains tax incentive program is designed to drive long-term investments to low-income communities. The law provides a federal tax incentive for investors to re-invest their capital gains into Opportunity Funds, which are specialized vehicles dedicated to investing in designated low-income areas. The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) signed into law July 2025 will strengthen the program and make the tax incentive permanent. The OBBB ends the sunset clause, mandates new zone designations every ten years, and directs capital toward distressed and rural communities.

Louisiana’s Restoration Tax Abatement (RTA) program revitalizes communities by providing an up to 10-year property tax abatement on renovations and improvements of existing commercial structures and owner-occupied residences located within economic development districts, downtown development districts, historic districts and Opportunity Zones.

Louisiana’s High-Impact Jobs Program (HIP) offers qualifying companies up to five years of reimbursable grants for the creation of new jobs that pay above the parish (county) average wage, based on the parish where the project is located. Companies can benefit from grants administered directly from Louisiana Economic Development, with higher wages yielding higher grants. HIP is designed to benefit businesses of all sizes—qualifying companies creating at least one new job can apply. Sole proprietorships are ineligible.

Businesses operating in Louisiana benefit from the most competitive tax code in the state’s history. As of January 2025, Louisiana’s personal and corporate income tax are among the lowest in the country – offering permanent full expensing, allowing businesses to deduct the full cost of qualifying capital investments in the year they’re placed in service.

The Certified Business Site Program identifies sites best suited for business, industrial or mixed-used developments and prepares them for acquisition. What’s more, these sites are classified as 180-day development-ready, ensuring tight timelines remain on schedule.

The Economic Gardening Initiative provides Louisiana small businesses with the information they need to grow and succeed through accelerated technical assistance and research, an experienced economic gardening team will provide customized services tailored to your business needs.

Program benefits include:

• A review of core strategies, including threats and opportunities, business strategy and niche markets
• Business development opportunities through market research and qualified sales leads
• Improved internet presence by increasing your company’s visibility and credibility within the market, and advice on how to best use technology to connect with customers

The Hudson Initiative is a certification program that’s designed to help eligible Louisiana small businesses gain direct access to purchasing and contracting opportunities that are available at the State government level.

Business and contact information will be accessible to State purchasing officials and prime contractors looking for subcontractors. Additionally, State agencies are encouraged to get quotes from and use qualified, certified companies whenever possible.

• For small purchases of less than $15,000, State agencies can waive the requirement of getting additional quotes if a certified company submits a quote that is reasonable
• 10% of the total evaluation points can be added to your bid on a Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Prime contractors who use your business as a subcontractor on a bid for an RFP are also eligible to receive additional percentage points on their bid

LED’s Small and Emerging Business Development (SEBD) Program provides the managerial and technical assistance training needed to grow and sustain a small business.

• Provides for developmental assistance, including entrepreneurial training, marketing, computer skills, accounting, business planning, and legal and industry-specific assistance
• Consideration for bidding on select products or services purchased by state agencies
• SEBD Intermediaries provide a free needs assessment and assistance with accessing other program benefits

The Small Business Loan and Guaranty Program facilitates capital accessibility for small businesses by providing loan guarantees to banks and other small business lenders in association with the federal State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).

The program’s purpose is to provide financial assistance, which helps with the development, expansion and retention of Louisiana’s small businesses. The program is administered by Louisiana Economic Development through Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC).

• Guarantees may range up to 75% of the loan amount, not to exceed $1.5 million
• Guarantee fee may be waived (determined by risk)
  • Loan Amount: $5,000 to $1.5 million
  • Maximum Guarantee: 75%
  • Minimum Equity Requirement: 15% to 20%
  • Application Fee: $0
  • Quick Turnaround for Loans: $500,000 or less

Louisiana’s Motion Picture Production Tax Credit provides up to a 40% tax credit on total qualified in-state motion picture production expenditures, including resident and non-resident labor.

Incentive benefits include:

• Up to a 40% tax credit (25% base credit, 10% increase for Louisiana screenplay productions, 5% increase if outside of New Orleans MSA)
• $50,000 minimum in-state expenditure requirement for Louisiana screenplay productions
• $300,000 minimum in-state expenditure requirement on all other eligible productions

Louisiana’s Veteran Initiative (LAVETBIZ) is a certification program designed to help eligible Louisiana Veteran-owned and Service-Connected Disabled-Veteran-owned small businesses gain greater access to purchasing and contracting opportunities available at the state government level.

Your business and contact information will be accessible to state purchasing officials and prime contractors who are looking for subcontractors. State agencies are encouraged to get quotes from and use qualified, certified companies whenever possible.

• For small purchases (less than $15,000), state agencies can waive the required additional quotes if a certified company submits a quote that is reasonable
• 10% of the total evaluation points can be added to your bid on a Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Prime contractors who use your business as a subcontractor on an RFP bid are also eligible to receive additional percentage points on their bid