Regional Review: Southern States Are Hub for Foreign Automakers & Suppliers

Beth Mattson-Teig (Location USA / April 2013)

Over the past decade, the South has emerged as a manufacturing hub for big automakers. Major international firms such as Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, and Volkswagen are just a few of the players that have a strong and growing presence in the South. As the auto industry continues to recover, that formidable industry cluster is fueling growth across Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee. More

The States Leading the U.S. Manufacturing Resurgence

Mark Crawford (Q1 / Winter 2013)

Exhibiting know-how and innovation, U.S. manufacturers are adding to their payrolls and economic growth across the nation. We have identified 19 states where manufacturing is leading the way... More

2013 Real Estate Outlook Part I: Ecommerce Requirements Drive Demand for New Generation Industrial Space

Craig Meyer, Executive Managing Director and leader of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Logistics and Industrial Services group, Jones Lang LaSalle (Q1 / Winter 2013)

Growth in “e-tailing,” as well as Class I railroad investment, is having a noticeable impact on the demand and development of industrial space. More

Government Cooperation with Business Helps Louisiana Lead in the Economic Recovery and Rank Sixth Overall

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Fall 2012)

Louisiana has taken a very aggressive, targeted approach to improve its business climate over the past five years, and those efforts are clearly paying off. Louisiana ranked sixth overall among the Top States for Doing Business - the same spot that the state held in the 2011 survey. Louisiana also ranked in the top five in several key categories. Most notably, the state ranked first for its cooperative state government and second for both its incentives programs and as a state that is leading in the economic recovery. More

2012 Top States for Doing Business Survey Results

Area Development Magazine Special Presentation (Fall 2012)

For the third consecutive year, Area Development magazine's editors have conducted a survey of a select group of highly respected location consultants who work with a nationwide client base. We asked the consultants to name their top-5 state choices in 14 site selection categories. More

Rural Jobs Challenge Awards Encourage Innovative Partnerships

Beth Mattson-Teig (Fall 2012)

The grants, which were awarded in August, are part of a national competition aimed at encouraging job creation and economic growth in rural communities across the country. More

New Natural Gas Technologies Firing Up Manufacturing

Steve Stackhouse (Fall 2012)

The natural gas boom is a "game-changer" sparking a "manufacturing renaissance." More

KPMG CompetitiveTax Structures Study Stacks Large and Small U.S. Cities against the Global Competition

Area Development Online Research Desk (October 2012)

Of the 55 large international cities highlighted in KPMG's 2012 Competitive Alternatives: Focus on Tax report, three U.S. cities rank among the top 20; Cincinnati (16th), Baltimore (17th), and Cleveland (18th). More

LOUISIANA at a glance

POPULATION: 4,574,836 (2011 Census)

LABOR FORCE: 2,072,285 (Sept. 2012 seasonally adjusted)

RIGHT TO WORK: Yes

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

EXPANDING INDUSTRIES: Advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, clean tech, digital media and software, energy, entertainment, specialty healthcare, water management

COLLEGE GRADUATES: (Age 25 and over) 26.3% (2011 estimate)

BASIC BUSINESS TAXES:
Corporate Income Tax: 4 percent on first $25,000; 5 percent on second $25,000; 6 percent on next $50,000; 7 percent on next $100,000; 8 percent over $200,000 based on net income of domestic and foreign corporations derived from Louisiana sources; federal income taxes are deductible in computing Louisiana net taxable income; state tax credits allowable under certain incentive programs can be used to offset all or part of corporate income taxes.

Corporate Franchise Tax: $1.50 per $1,000 on first $300,000 of issued and outstanding capital stock, surplus, and undivided profits; $3.00 per $1,000 above $300,000; state tax credits allowable under certain incentive programs can be used to offset all or part of corporate franchise taxes.

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 and equipment used by manufacturers are exempt from Louisiana sales tax.

Property Tax: Statewide average effective rate; 1 percent of land FMV and 1.5 percent of businesses' capital assets FMV; levied by cities and parishes (Louisiana offers an ad valorem tax, 10-year 100 percent abatement for qualified companies.)

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

Musical & Theatrical Production Tax Incentive

LED FastStart™

Modernization Tax Credit

Technology Commercialization Credit and Jobs Program

New Markets Tax Credit