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Invest in Louisiana
A short guide for companies expanding into Louisiana: the economy at a glance, the rules and steps to set up, and who can help, each with its source.
1. Louisiana at a glance
Population
4.62 million
The population was 4,618,189 as of July 1, 2025.
Source: Census Bureau, state population estimates, July 1, 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP
US$342.3 billion
GDP was US$342,321.2 million in 2025, in current dollars.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
GDP per person
US$74,125
GDP per person was US$74,124.6 in 2025, in current dollars, computed from BEA's GDP and the Census Bureau's population estimate.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Real GDP growth
1.5%
Real GDP growth was 1.5 percent in 2025, BEA's published percent change.
Source: BEA, GDP by state, 2025 (annual update, September 2026) (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Currency and inflation: see the United States at a glance
2. Before you set up
The body that handles foreign investment, any one-stop route, Louisiana’s limits on foreign ownership, the zones and other rules for investors, as the guide found them.
SelectUSA lists the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, which operates as Louisiana Economic Development, as the state's economic development organization.
Source: SelectUSA, state economic development organizations (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Secretary of State's home page says geauxBIZ lets a business register, file annual reports, check name availability and register for tax accounts in one place.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Louisiana restricts foreign-adversary ownership of property through Act 464 of 2023 (R.S. 9:2717.1), Act 420 of 2024 (R.S. 3:3613-3619) and Act 845 of 2026 (R.S. 9:2717.1.2-2717.1.8).
Source: Louisiana Legislature, R.S. 9:2717.1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
The Foreign-Trade Zones Board's 2024 annual report lists 9 foreign-trade zones in Louisiana.
Source: Foreign-Trade Zones Board, annual report, 2024 (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Show 10 more
R.S. 9:2717.1 bars a foreign adversary or a person it controls from acquiring Louisiana immovable property, for property acquired on or after August 1, 2023.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, R.S. 9:2717.1 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
R.S. 3:3613 bars a foreign adversary or prohibited foreign actor from owning or leasing agricultural land, and R.S. 3:3619 limits it to land acquired after August 1, 2024.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 420 of 2024, enrolled text (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Under Act 420 of 2024, a prohibited foreign actor is a company or fund with a foreign adversary holding a controlling interest, presumed at 50 percent.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 420 of 2024, enrolled text (opens in a new tab) · as of 2024
Act 845 of 2026 bars a foreign adversary or prohibited foreign actor from holding land within 25 miles of a military installation, if acquired on or after August 1, 2026.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 845 of 2026, enrolled text (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 474 of 2026, effective May 29, 2026, lets the state Military Department expropriate land held by a foreign adversary within 50 miles of a military base, whenever acquired.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 474 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 391 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, bars a company majority-controlled by a foreign adversary from using Louisiana's expropriation power within 50 miles of a military base.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 391 of 2026, enrolled text (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 786 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, defines a foreign adversary's agent, for private expropriation, as an entity it can direct, presumed at 50 percent of votes or profits.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 786 of 2026, act text (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 764 of 2026, effective June 3, 2026, lets the Division of Administration review state contracts to see whether a foreign adversary or its agent holds them.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 764 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Act 244 of 2025, effective August 1, 2025, bars medical and research facilities from putting new genetic sequencers or software from foreign adversary companies into service.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 244 of 2025 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025
Act 750 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, bars agreements that let a foreign adversary exercise operational authority over Louisiana critical infrastructure, with attorney general enforcement from November 29, 2026.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 750 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of 2026
Investment rules across the United States: see Invest in the United States
3. Steps to set up
The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.
Setting up in Louisiana
- Register a company formed outside Louisiana with the Secretary of State, and attach a certificate of good standing or existence from its home state.Louisiana Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, file business documents (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Use geauxBIZ to register the business, file annual reports and register for state tax accounts in one place.Louisiana Secretary of StateOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Register with the Department of Revenue for the state taxes that apply, such as sales tax and corporate income tax.Louisiana Department of RevenueOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Revenue budget, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If the business will have employees, register as an employer for unemployment insurance with Louisiana Works.Louisiana WorksOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Louisiana Works budget, March 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Show 2 more set-up steps
- If the business sells insurance, ask the Department of Insurance about licensing for insurers, producers and adjusters.Louisiana Department of InsuranceOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Insurance budget, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- If the business lends money, takes deposits or sells securities, ask the Office of Financial Institutions about licensing.Louisiana Office of Financial InstitutionsOfficial page (opens in a new tab)
Source: Louisiana Senate Finance Committee, Financial Institutions budget, February 2026 (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Steps that apply across the United States: see Invest in the United States
4. Organizations that help investors
Start with Secretary of State and SBA Louisiana District Office. Each card links to the organization’s own site.
Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets
Investment and business setup
State business filings office
Secretary of State
Louisiana Secretary of State
Registers businesses and files annual reports through geauxBIZ, qualifies foreign companies, and issues apostilles for documents used abroad.
Visit Secretary of State (opens in a new tab)Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
- Get advice
Federal small business office
SBA Louisiana District Office
U.S. Small Business Administration Louisiana District Office
Serves all 64 Louisiana parishes with Small Business Administration funding programs, counseling, contracting certifications and disaster recovery help.
Show 2 more organizations
State workforce and unemployment agency
Louisiana Works
Administers the state's unemployment insurance trust fund, which employer taxes support, and runs workforce programs.
State military department
Military Department
Louisiana Department of Military Affairs
Manages the Louisiana National Guard's garrisons and readiness centers, and is the body Act 474 of 2026 empowers to expropriate foreign-adversary land within 50 miles of a military base.
Customs and tax
- Meet requirements
State tax and revenue department
Department of Revenue
Louisiana Department of Revenue
Collects state taxes, processes taxpayer registration and returns, audits tax compliance and assists taxpayers, according to the legislature's budget deck.
- Meet requirements
Port authority
Port NOLA
Port of New Orleans
Runs the Port of New Orleans and is developing the Louisiana International Terminal, which received its federal permit in August 2026.
Show 1 more organization
- Meet requirements
Port authority
PortSL
Port of South Louisiana
Governs a 54-mile Mississippi River port district that handles grain exports and other cargo, and publishes its tariff and foreign-trade zone schedules.
Visit PortSL (opens in a new tab)Source: Port of South Louisiana, home page (opens in a new tab) · as of November 3, 2026
Chambers and industry associations
- Get advice
Chemical industry association
LCA
Louisiana Chemistry Association
Speaks for chemical manufacturers, vendors and suppliers with state and local officials, and holds an annual meeting and a reverse trade show.
Visit LCA (opens in a new tab)Source: Louisiana Chemistry Association, home page, April 2026 items (opens in a new tab) · as of April 28, 2026
5. Worth knowing
Reserved sectors
Louisiana restricts foreign-adversary property ownership under Act 464 of 2023, Act 420 of 2024 for farmland, and Act 845 of 2026 for land near military installations.
What to do: Check your owners against each act's definition before you buy or lease a site.
Sources: Louisiana Legislature, Act 845 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab); Louisiana Legislature, R.S. 3:3613 (opens in a new tab) · as of August 1, 2026
Military land expropriation
Act 474 of 2026 lets the Military Department expropriate foreign-adversary land within 50 miles of a military base, and Act 391 bars such companies from expropriating property there.
What to do: Ask counsel whether any site you hold or intend to buy lies near a military base.
Sources: Louisiana Legislature, Act 474 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab); Louisiana Legislature, Act 391 of 2026, enrolled text (opens in a new tab) · as of August 1, 2026
Corporate taxes
Louisiana taxes corporate income at a flat 5.5 percent from tax year 2025 and repealed its corporation franchise tax for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
What to do: Model Louisiana tax at the rate in force for each tax year you model.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, 2024 state tax reform summary, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 5, 2025
Sales tax rate
The state sales tax rate is 5 percent from January 1, 2025 through December 31, 2029, then 4.75 percent from January 1, 2030.
What to do: Confirm the state and local rates for your site before you price.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, 2024 state tax reform summary, December 2025 (opens in a new tab) · as of December 5, 2025
Show 1 more
Critical infrastructure rules
Act 750 of 2026, effective August 1, 2026, bars agreements giving a foreign adversary operational authority over Louisiana critical infrastructure; the attorney general can enforce it from November 29, 2026.
What to do: Review vendor and software contracts for critical infrastructure before that date.
Source: Louisiana Legislature, Act 750 of 2026 digest (opens in a new tab) · as of August 1, 2026
Across the United States: see Worth knowing in Invest in the United States
6. How Promote:Global helps
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Promote:Louisiana is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.
Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of November 4, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.