[StBernard] Greetings from Hong Kong: An e-postcard from Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco

[Westley Annis]

We are casting a wide net in hopes of landing a big catch. And now, more than ever Louisiana is ready to reel in investment opportunities. We continue to roll back business taxes that stifled our economic development efforts in the past and actively promoting our extraordinary incentive packages. The Gulf Opportunity Zone incentive package in South Louisiana and the Renewal Communities economic incentives in North and Central Louisiana are powerful economic drivers. Portions of the Gulf Opportunity Zone package expire in 2008, though I am requesting a federal extension. The Renewal Communities incentives in many of North Louisiana's rural communities also offer outstanding opportunities with comparable tax incentives. Louisiana's own package of available incentives includes a variety of tax credits to businesses hiring a minimum number of net new employees, encouraging businesses to create good-! paying jobs, supporting the expansion, restoration, improvement and development of existing commercial structures and offering special incentives to Louisiana manufacturers. These are the selling points I offered during meetings with business executives in Hong Kong yesterday and will continue to mention in the days ahead. 


- Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco