Baton Rouge is in the heart of the U.S. Gulf Coast and is home to one of the most competitive logistics networks in the country. Located on the Mississippi River between Houston, TX and Mobile, AL, with three mainline railroads (UP, KCS, and CN), and along Interstate 10, the Baton Rouge Area allows companies to take full advantage of Louisiana’s multimodal logistics network. The region has access to six major interstate highways, an extensive network of shallow and deep-water ports, and is in one of only two states where all six of North America’s class one railroads converge. Unparalleled access has attracted top logistics firms and major industry that rely on Baton Rouge’s logistics network to move their products across the country and around the globe.
Workforce
Baton Rouge is home to over 700 logistics companies representing more than 12,000 jobs specifically in the logistics sector. Partnerships between local businesses and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System provide customized workforce solutions to ensure that the skills needed for tomorrow’s jobs are being developed today.
Incentives
Companies in the logistics sector may be eligible for state incentives, including:
- Quality Jobs Program: Up to a 6 percent rebate on annual payroll expenses for up to 10 years and either a state sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or a 1.5 percent project facility expense rebate for qualifying expenses.
- Enterprise Zone Program: Either 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.
- Payment-in-lieu-of-taxes Program: offered for a 10-year term through the Capital Region Finance Authority.
Assets
Part of the largest port system in the nation, the Port of Greater Baton Rouge gives access to America’s heartland, the Gulf of Mexico, Latin America, and beyond. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge forms part of the largest port system in the nation and is ranked among the top 15 in the U.S. in terms of cargo volume, annually shipping more than 53 million tons. This keeps the country connected by acting as a gateway to America’s heartland, the Gulf of Mexico and Latin America, while also offering direct barge access to 32 states, two Canadian provinces, and nearly 15,000 miles of inland water transportation. The Port of Greater Baton Rouge is also ideal for intermodal transportation thanks to direct access to ship, barge, truck and rail.
General purpose FTZ’s are located at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, which acts as the local authority for the FTZ program, and the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport. By shipping into a FTZ, costly U.S. customs duties can be deferred, reduced or even eliminated.
Louisiana is one of only two states where all six of North America’s class one railroads converge, with interchange traffic connecting the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. Three class 1 railroads serve the Port: Union Pacific Railroad, Illinois Central/Canadian National Railway, and Kansas City Southern Railroad. The largest railroad in North America, Union Pacific Railroad covers 23 states, along with major gateways to Mexico and interchange traffic with Canadian rail systems. Canadian National is the largest network in Canada, operating in eight Canadian provinces and 16 U.S. states. Kansas City Southern Railway company operates 3,100 miles of rail in 10 central and southeastern state, with rail services between the U.S. and Mexico.
The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport offers non-stop flights to four major U.S. hub airports (Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte) via major carriers Delta, United and American Airlines, with connectivity to more than 300 cities around the world. The Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans offers additional global air options in the SoLA Super Region.
Baton Rouge has direct access to I-10 (stretching from coast to coast), I-12, I-55 (connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes), and U.S. Highways 190 and 65.
Sites
The Baton Rouge Area has 36 development-ready sites. View the full sites database.
– Baton Rouge Aviation Business Park
The Aviation Business Park, a designated Foreign Trade Zone, is owned by the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport and has more than 125 acres available for development. Located five miles north of downtown Baton Rouge, the site has most infrastructure already in place, including roads, electrical service, natural gas, water and sewer lines. The site is ideally situated for a wide range of both aviation and non-aviation businesses, providing direct access to major transportation options. The airport offers competitive leasing rates, economic incentives, and many other advantages.
– Grezaffi South Site
The Grezaffi South Site is located just south of Baton Rouge in the Industrial Corridor with 213 acres available for development with power and water onsite. Situated at the intersection of Highway 73 and Highway 30, the site is less than 3 miles to Interstate 10. This is an ideal location for companies who need proximity to major chemical companies in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
