With the nation’s strongest incentive program for software and digital media, some of the fastest-growing tech companies in America, and an abundance of specialized talent (without the sky-high operating costs of Silicon Valley or New York), Baton Rouge is emerging as a smart location for software development.
Workforce
Baton Rouge provides ample training opportunities for students to quickly gain career-ready skills for the tech industry, and those training providers have a track record of success working with employers to provide direct access and customized programs.
– Apprenti Louisiana
Apprenti Louisiana works with tech employers to determine hiring needs in the rapidly expanding tech field. To fill these roles, Apprenti Louisiana offers tech apprenticeships to eligible candidates. Candidates receive intensive classroom training, paid on-the-job training, and an opportunity to interview with their employer for a full-time position at the completion of their program.
– EBR Career and Technical Education Center
The Career and Technical Education Center offers a half-day program allowing high school students to earn Industry Based Credentials in the four high-wage, high-demand industries of computer science, construction crafts, medical, and manufacturing. All four program areas include hands-on-training and focused courses on professionalism to address soft skills and safety in CTE occupations.
– IBM P-TECH
IBM's Pathways in Technology Early College High School (P-TECH) program is a six-year program for high school students to earn their high school diploma and an associate degree in Applied Science from Baton Rouge Community College simultaneously. The program includes high school coursework with a focus on engineering and computer science accompanied with mentorship and internships.
Incentives
Companies in the software development sector may be eligible for state incentives, including:
- Digital Interactive Media and Software Program: awards state tax credits of 25 percent on labor payrolls and 18 percent on production expenditures for digital media and software development companies.
- Entertainment Job Creation Program: provides a 15-20 percent tax credit on W2 wages to entertainment companies that are creating new jobs for Louisiana residents.
- LED FastStart: The top workforce development program in the country, FastStart provides customized employee recruitment, screening, training development and training delivery for eligible, new or expanding companies — all at no cost.
Assets
The Louisiana Business and Technology Center at the LSU Innovation Park has created more than 10,000 jobs and helped startups raise almost $200 million in equity and contracts. It strives to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs in strategic planning, raising capital, improving operations and increasing sales.
The Louisiana Technology Park is the hub for technology development in Louisiana. It was created to drive economic development and job creation by providing high-tech startups with the resources to bring their products and services to market faster and more effectively.
Sites
The Baton Rouge Area has 36 development-ready sites. View the full sites database.
– LSU Innovation Park
A 200-acre certified site, the LSU Innovation Park has been master planned into a research and technology site for companies operating in a number of specialized fields compatible with LSU Research including digital media/interactive entertainment and software development. The Master Plan sets out four different Architectural Typology based on the location of the building within the park.
