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Public Policy

At the same time that GNO, Inc. has enjoyed historic success with its business development effort, the organization has also led the way in major legislative reforms, helping to create one of the best business climates in the nation (currently ranked #7, highest ever).  With a successful passage rate of 75% – 85%, highlights of GNO, Inc.’s Public Policy efforts include:

Improving the Tax Climate

• Elimination of Capital Gains Tax on Business Sale:  Led effort to eliminate capital gains tax on sale of privately-held business, reversing outmigration of entrepreneurs and wealth; called “most important piece of job legislation in 20 years” by president of major bank

Supporting Entrepreneurship & Innovation

• Digital Media Incentive: Led effort to improve the Digital Media Tax Credit Program by expanding the program to all types of technology applications and allowing the 35% benefit to be issued as a simple rebate
• Angel Investor Tax Credit:  Led reinstatement of tax credit program that expired in 2009; under the new law, private investments in Louisiana-based startups will receive a 35% credit
• R&D and Tech Commercialization Incentives:  Supported successful initiative to extend these important innovation incentives

Supporting Industry

• Quality Jobs:  Played integral role in legislation that extends the Quality Jobs program—arguably the most effective broad-based incentive program in the state, encouraging company growth, high wages, and health care benefits—through 2017
• Energy:  Developed and led the “REEL” (Renewed Energy Economy for Louisiana) agenda, forecast to add up to 9,000 new jobs, by leveling the LA tax regime with neighbor states
• Trade:  Played leading role in passage of key cargo and infrastructure incentives that will help position the GNO region for the widening of the Panama Canal
• Nims Film Center Expansion:  Led regional effort to secure $1.55 million in state funds for expansion of the NIMS Film Center in Jefferson, building infrastructure capacity in film
• Public Labor Agreement Prohibition:  Successfully represented broad business consensus against mandatory Public Labor Agreements

Improving Higher Education

• Higher Education Reform:  Led statewide business coalition to enact higher education reforms – the GRAD Act 1.0 & 2.0 -  in partnership with Baton Rouge Area Chamber.  GRAD Act  legislation established new performance standards for colleges statewide in exchange for unprecedented autonomy
• UNO Transfer to UL System:  Supported effort to move UNO to the UL system, where school will enjoy critical autonomy and support

Other Initiatives

GNO, Inc. leads a range of other initiatives focused creating jobs and wealth in Greater New Orleans.  These include:

• New Orleans Startup Fund:  Working with regional business and financial leaders, GNO, Inc. helped launch a nonprofit venture fund focused on business creation and stimulation of investment in the Greater New Orleans region
• IP Buildings: GNO, Inc. worked with Idea Village to open the nationally acclaimed “I.P. Building” for entrepreneurs in New Orleans.  The property now has dozens of startup and high-tech companies.  GNO, Inc. followed the original I.P. Building’s success by opening the “I.P. North” in downtown Covington; the second building is home to Bayou FX
• Gulf Permit Index: When the federal government announced that it would lift the Deep Water Drilling Moratorium in October 2010, GNO, Inc. and the Business Council of Greater New Orleans pledged to track and report on permit issuance.  The resulting “Gulf Permit Index” (GPI) has become the standard for regular information on permits
• Sustainable Industries Initiative:  Based on original, global research, GNO, Inc. launched an initiative to make Greater New Orleans the “Silicon Valley” of Sustainability:  home to companies that create jobs and wealth by solving environmental problems
• Coastal Vitality Project:  In response to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, GNO, Inc. launched the Coastal Vitality Project (CVP).  The CVP included an award-winning website and iPhone app to provide resources and helpful links.  Additionally, GNO, Inc. published a three-part Economic Impact Series to study the effects to the ecosystem, the effects of the federal drilling moratorium, and the damage to Louisiana’s ‘brand’
• Southeast Super-Region Committee: GNO, Inc. established an unprecedented partnership with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, forming the “Southeast Super-Region Committee,” (SRC) to work on higher education, transportation, trade and innovation.  Early success of the SRC includes driving passage of the GRAD Act for higher education reform
• Airport Improvement:  GNO, Inc. has been a driving force behind efforts to improve Louis Armstrong Airport, including support of improved governance, improved facilities, and the addition of domestic and international flights (e.g., WestJet)
• GNOi  – In order to make everyone in Greater New Orleans an economic development marketer, GNO, Inc.’s NextGen Council developed the first-ever economic development smart-phone app:  GNOi (can be downloaded for free from the iPhone App Store)
• Site Selector Tours – GNO, Inc. hosts quarterly tours for influential site selectors, resulting in new project leads, and broad positive exposure (e.g., a recent article entitled:  “The New Orleans Miracle”)
• Media  – Given that brand is a major challenge for New Orleans and Louisiana, GNO, Inc. focuses on telling the story of the Greater  New Orleans Renaissance to local, national and  press – resulting in over 400 pieces in just three years