Rates & Incentives

Individualized Attention for Your Business

• LED FastStart Workforce Program

  One of the biggest expenses for businesses is labor. LED FastStart, Louisiana’s nationally recognized workforce development program, removes some of the burden with free, customized training for qualified new and expanding companies.

  Eligible industries include manufacturing, digital media, research & development, headquarters, and warehousing and distribution. Companies must create at least 15 new, permanent jobs in manufacturing or distribution centers and 50 in digital media, headquarters, research & development, or inbound call centers.

  How it works:

  • Analyze: FastStart evaluates the full scope of a company’s operations to design tailored workforce solutions.
  • Attract: It identifies and engages top talent based on behavioral and technical fit.
  • Evaluate: Candidates undergo rigorous pre-hire assessments, including interviews, simulations and training.
  • Train: Custom-designed programs deliver technical, team-based and soft-skills training to boost productivity from day one.

  Check out LED FastStart

• Data Center Incentive

  Passed in 2024, the Data Center Incentive is designed to create competitive advantages in the data center industry recruitment by providing state and local sales and use tax exemption on the purchase or lease of data center equipment and software.
  

  • The initial term is 20 years, with the option to renew for an additional 10 years. 
  • The data center must be in Louisiana and certified by LED. 
  • The project must create 50 direct, permanent new in-state jobs and spend at least $200 million in new capital investment in Louisiana by July 1, 2029. 
  • A state and local sales and use tax rebate on data center development and related services and equipment that are not paid with state or federal funds, unless structured as a loan.

  With seven LED certified, power-ready sites covering over 3,370 acres, Cleco has the capacity and portfolio to support large load data centers across the state. 

  Louisiana offers a range of incentives, from its Motion Picture Production tax credit of up to 40% on qualified in-state expenditures to its Quality Jobs programs with up to 6% rebate on annual payroll expenses for new jobs. The state also has several programs for small businesses, including a Small Business Development Program and a Bonding Assistance Program to secure reasonable rates from surety companies for public or private jobs.

  Cleco's NextGen Technology

• High Impact Jobs Program

  The 2025 HB 507 bill sunsets the previous Quality Jobs Program and introduces the High Impact Jobs Program (HIP), revitalizing the state’s commitment to incentivizing job creation. Administered by Louisiana Economic Development (LED), this new program provides grants based on annualized wages for qualifying jobs, with a maximum of $200,000 per year per job. The incentive amount varies by parish average wage and project location, ranging from 8% to 22%. 

  Qualifying jobs must not have existed in the state prior to the effective date of the program contract and meet all of the following requirements:

  • Full-time, at-will employees (does not include seasonal or temporary positions)
  • Directly employed by the company or a named subsidiary
  • Filled on-site or remotely by Louisiana residents
  • Include a basic health benefits plan

  Effective July 1, 2025, with grants issued beginning July 1, 2026, this program strengthens Louisiana’s economic development competitiveness by encouraging the creation of high-paying, high-quality jobs.

  Explore the High Impact Jobs Program

• Louisiana Research & Development Tax Credit

  The Research and Development Tax Credit encourages existing businesses with operating facilities in Louisiana to establish or continue research and development activities within the state.

  • Provides up to a 30% tax credit on qualified research expenditures incurred in Louisiana — with no cap and no minimum requirement.

  Learn More about the R&D Tax Credit

• Industrial Tax Exemption Program

  The Louisiana Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program (ITEP) is an original state incentive program, which offers an attractive tax incentive for manufacturers who make a commitment to jobs and payroll in the state. With approval by the Board of Commerce and Industry, the program provides an 80% property tax abatement for an initial term of five years and the option to renew for five additional years at 80% property tax abatement on a manufacturer’s qualifying capital investment related to the manufacturing process in the state.

  In 2024, new additions or revisions were made to the program, which include:
  

  • A new tier focused on any mega project exceeding 200% of the 10-year parish average can qualify for a 93-100% exemption. 
  • Job and payroll commitments are no longer required to qualify for ITEP.  
  • A new Annual Project Property Report will establish the exemption terms for a group of assets. 
  • All capital expenditures associated with a project, as defined on the ITEP application and located at the project site, are eligible for the exemption. This includes sustaining capital, maintenance capital, and proactive environmental upgrades. 

  • Multi-year projects now use separate Project Property Reports for each year, with a 5-year term and 5-year renewal option, replacing individual ITEP applications.

  Check out the ITEP

• Cleco Incentives

  Companies within Cleco’s service territory enjoy a range of additional incentive programs, including a $7 million deal closing fund for infrastructure improvements for existing, expanding and relocating businesses. Cleco also offers an Experimental Rider for Incremental Employment and Economic Development Service in which qualified customers receive a discount on electrical rates based on job creation or economic development.

  Cleco's Rates & Fees