Services Economic Development & Incentives

Kean Miller attorneys have extensive experience and success in utilizing state incentive programs to minimize client cost and increase capital available for development projects. Whether clients are pursuing new projects or contemplating expansion, we identify available incentive and economic development programs, assist clients in negotiating with the appropriate state and local officials, and structure transactions to maximize client benefit. We specialize in cooperative endeavor agreements, payments in lieu of taxes, industrial tax exemptions, public-private partnerships, and state tax credits.

We frequently assist companies in taking advantage of innovative and creative economic development and tax incentives, including, but not limited to: the Manufacturing Machinery & Equipment Sales Tax Exclusion/Exemption (La. R.S. 47:301; 47:305.5); Industrial Tax Exemptions (La. Const. art. VII, § 21); the Enterprise Zone Program (La. R.S. 47:1781 et seq.); the Quality Jobs Act Program (La. R.S. 51:2451 et seq.); the Tax Equalization Program (La. R.S. 47:3201 et seq.); the Industry Assistance Program (La. R.S. 47:4301 et seq.); Inventory Tax Credits (La. R.S. 47:6006); Recycling Tax Credits (La. R.S. 47:6005); and other economic development related incentives. Kean Miller has a keen eye on LED’s recently introduced strategic economic development plan and the related legislation meant to implement that plan which is currently progressing through this legislative session.

Representative Experience

• Project local counsel for a $10 billion Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) export terminal. Kean Miller represented the owner in the transaction as Louisiana real estate counsel, Louisiana energy regulatory counsel, and Louisiana and federal environmental counsel.
• Served as Louisiana tax and incentives counsel for the development of a $4 billion ethylene cracking and derivatives complex and an adjacent gas-to liquids complex.
• Representation of a biofuels company with regard to economic development incentives, industrial real estate acquisitions, corporate documentation, environmental permitting, and governmental agency relations.
• Project counsel to a Fortune 500 company in connection with cooperative endeavor agreements with the State of Louisiana for the development of a new facility in Lake Charles, Louisiana that will manufacture and distribute industrial parts for the nuclear energy industry.
• Project counsel to a major chemical company in connection with the conversion of a facility to mercury-free chlor-alkali process in St. Gabriel, Louisiana. Our Economic Development team negotiated pollution control sales tax relief for major process changes.
• Representation of the economic development arm of a major Louisiana city in connection with corporation income and franchise tax changes to stimulate the development of corporate headquarters in Louisiana.
• Lobbying and active involvement in drafting, modifications, and re-enactments of the Louisiana Motion Picture Incentive Act.
• Representation of a movie and television association as legislative counsel. The association serves as the voice and advocate of the Louisiana motion, television, and video industry.
• Representation of a motion picture industry client as legislative/governmental counsel and tax incentives consultant. The company is the only computer-controlled precision wave-making facility designed for and dedicated to the making of motion pictures in the United States.
• Lobbied and assisted with the passage of legislation enacting the Louisiana Digital Media Act designed to encourage development in Louisiana of a strong capital base for the production of digital interactive media.