1. A. The following general principles will direct the administration of the program.

   1. 1. Awards are not be considered as an entitlement, and the secretary has the final authority to determine whether or not each particular applicant is eligible and meets the criteria of the award, and in all such circumstances, the exercise of that discretion shall be deemed to be a final determination of the applicant’s award status.
   2. 2. Award amounts, per project, may vary at the discretion of LED, with a minimum award of one million dollars.
   3. 3. Applicants shall identify a funding match.
   4. 4. LED may negotiate with each applicant seeking an award based on the individual merits of each projects.
   5. 5. Award agreements shall contain “clawback” provisions to protect the state in case of default.
   6. 6. Award funds shall be used for the approved project only.
   7. 7. Awards may be administered by LED directly, or LED may use funds to contract with a third party administrator to undertake such activities.
   8. 8. Applications shall be accepted subject to availability of funding in any given year, or as otherwise determined by LED.

   9. 9. As a general rule, applicants may apply for more than one statutory benefit program administered by LED, provided that:

      1. a. separate applications are submitted per program; and
      2. b. program applicants do not receive a double benefit on the same expenditure.

2. B. Program funding.

   1. 1. Funding for this program is provided by any money transferred, donated, or appropriated to the Site Investment and Infrastructure Improvement Fund (“Fund”), with an initial fund deposit of one hundred and fifty million dollars in fiscal year 2026.
   2. 2. LED may not authorize issuance of payments exceeding the available monies in the Fund.
   3. 3. The issuance of payments shall be subject to funding availability in any given fiscal year.

   4. 4. Monies in the fund shall be utilized in accordance with the department's strategic plan and program priorities. The department shall consider the following factors in the allocation of monies:

      1. a. demonstrated market demand in priority sectors.
      2. b. performance measures.
      3. c. return on investment.
      4. d. impact on distressed communities.
      5. e. public benefit and economic impact.
      6. f. site potential.

   5. 5. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the department shall prioritize allocation of monies to purposes that meet any of the following criteria:

      1. a. leverage public-private partnerships, private equity, or other resources.
      2. b. address specific and critical needs for high-potential projects.
      3. c. are a Louisiana Economic Development certified site.

Authority Note

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 36:104 and R.S. 51:2316.

Historical Note

HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by Louisiana Economic Development, Office of Economic Development, LR 52:235 (February 2026).