Incentive Overview

Local Incentives

St. Bernard Parish is home to America’s 6th fastest growing suburb & is located just 5 miles from Canal Street in the heart of New Orleans. Your business can be positioned close enough to the action, but far removed enough to avoid the traffic, parking, safety and permitting issues that complicate many downtown areas. St. Bernard has the same tax credits available to the region and additionally is a registered Federal Opportunity Zone with local sweeteners.

Film St. Bernard

Film St. Bernard is a locally administered incentive program designed to attract and mature the film and creative digital media industries in The Parish while complementing Louisiana’s Motion Picture Production tax credit. Offering up to a 3.5% rebate on expenses related to soundstage leases, lodging, payroll, and qualifying expenditures, the program is one of the most aggressive in the State of Louisiana.

Startup St. Bernard

An annual entrepreneurship pitch competition held in March. The program is open to any business in operation for 5 years or less, has yearly revenue under $1,000,000, has 5 or less employees, and agrees to relocate or open in St. Bernard Parish. Winnings for first place range from $30,000-40,000 cash plus approximately $40,000 of in-kind services. Two runner ups will both receive $5,000 of seed money.

Discretionary Incentives

St. Bernard Parish will consider discretionary incentives for impactful projects.

Federal Incentives

New Market Tax Credits (NMTC)

Designed to attract capital to low-income communities by providing private investors with a federal tax credit for investments made in businesses or economic development projects located in some of the most distressed communities. A NMTC investor receives a tax credit equal to 39 percent of the total Qualified Equity Investment (QEI) made in a Community Development Entity (CDE) and the Credit is realized over a seven-year period.

Opportunity Zones

Opportunity Zones is a capital gains tax incentive program is designed to drive long-term investments to low-income communities. The program 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. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/opportunity-zones

Historic Tax Credits (HTC)

The HTC program encourages private sector investment in the rehabilitation and re-use of historic buildings. The federal tax credit allows program participants to claim 20 percent of eligible improvement expenses against their federal tax liability. To learn more go to: https://www.crt.state.la.us/cultural-development/historic-preservation/tax-incentives/

State Incentives

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) FastStart

The nation’s #1 workforce training program, FastStart creates customized employee recruiting, screening and training solutions — at no cost to eligible companies. This is a discretionary incentive. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/faststart

Angel Investor Tax Credit

This Program offers to a 25 percent tax credit for individual investors who invest in early stage, wealth-creating businesses that seek start-up and expansion capital. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/angel-investor-tax-credit

Digital Interactive Media and Software Program

An incentive designed for software development projects offering a 25 percent tax credit for in-state labor, and an 18 percent credit for eligible production expenditures. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/digital-interactive-media-and-software-program

Enterprise Zone

Incentive program that offers a $3,500 or $1,000 tax credit for each certified net, new job created and either a state sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or 1.5 percent investment tax credit for qualifying expenses. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/enterprise-zone

Industrial Tax Exemption

This is a long-standing incentive program that provides a property tax abatement of 80% for up to 10 years on a manufacturer’s new investment. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/industrial-tax-exemption

Entertainment Job Creation Program

Program offering a 15 percent or 20 percent tax credit on annual wages to qualified entertainment companies (QEC) that create a minimum of five well-paid, net new jobs for Louisiana residents. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/Entertainment-Job-Creation-Program

Live Performance Production Program

Designed to bolster Louisiana’s live performance industry, this program offers up to a 18% tax credit on expenditures and up to a 7% tax credit on payroll for musical and theatrical productions, refundable or transferable on a one-time basis. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/Live-Performance-Production-Program

Motion Picture Production Program

The driver of “Hollywood South,” this incentive offers up to a 40% tax credit on eligible in-state production expenses and labor. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/motion-picture-production-program

Music Job Creation Program

Offers a 10-15% credit on annual wages to qualified music-industry related companies (QMC) that create three or more well-paid net new jobs in the State. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/music-job-creation-program

Quality Jobs

Program offering up to 6% rebate on payroll expenses and either a state sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or a 1.5% project facility expense rebate for qualifying expenses. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/quality-jobs

Research and Development Tax Credit

Tax credit designed to encourage existing businesses with operating facilities in Louisiana to establish or continue research and development activities in the State. This program offers up to a30% tax credit on qualified research expenditures incurred in Louisiana. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/research-and-development-tax-credit

Restoration Tax Abatement

Program offers a 100% property tax abatement for up to 10 years for the rehabilitation of an existing structure. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/restoration-tax-abatement

Sound Recording Program

Incentive designed to complement Louisiana’s world-class musical talent with the financial benefits or recording. The program provides an 18% tax credit for qualifying production expenditures relating to sound recording. To learn more go to: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/business-incentives/sound-recording-program

To learn more about many of these programs please visit:
St Bernard Economic Development Foundation
https://www.stbernardforward.org/contact
Louisiana Economic Development
https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/

For more information Contact: – St Bernard Economic Development Foundation
Andrew Jacques, SBEDF Executive Director
100 Port Blvd., Suite 10 Chalmette, Louisiana 70043
(504) 277-4009
www.stbernardforward.org