POPULATION: 4,410,796 (2008 estimate)

LABOR FORCE: 2,078,935 (2008 estimate)

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

TRADITIONAL INDUSTRIES: Oil and gas, petrochemicals, agriculture, timber, processed foods

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Digital media, alternative and nuclear energy, advanced manufacturing, information technology, value-added agribusiness, motion picture/sound recording/live performance, life sciences, logistics and transportation

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 25.5% (2008 estimate)

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: 4 percent on first $25,000; 5 percent on second $25,000; 6 percent on next $25,000; 7 percent on next $100,000; 8 percent over $200,000

Corporate Franchise Tax: $1.50 per $1,000 on first $300,000 of capital stock, surplus, undivided profits, and borrowed capital; $3.00 per $1,000 above $300,000

Sales and Use Tax: 4 percent levied on sale of tangible personal property at retail, as well as the use, consumption, distribution, or storage of tangible personal property and the sale of services in the state; 1 to 5 percent local rate; several exemptions provided for sales tax; electricity, water, natural gas, machinery & equipment used by manufacturers are exempt from Louisiana sales tax

Property Tax: 1 percent of value of land and improvements for homeowners and 1.5 percent of value of equipment and improvements for businesses; levied by cities and parishes

BUSINESS INCENTIVES:
Enterprise zones
Quality Jobs Program
Restoration tax abatement
Industrial tax exemption
R&D Tax Credit
Sound Recording Investor Tax Credit
Digital Interactive Media Tax Credit
Motion Picture Investor Tax Credit
Live Performance Tax Credit
Louisiana FastStart™
Economic Development Award Program
Technology Commercialization Credit and Jobs Program
New Markets Tax Credit
Small Business Loan Program
Micro Loan Program
Bonding Assistance Program
Angel Investor Tax Credit
Mentor-Protégé Tax Credit