§130.874. Economic and industrial development

            A.(1) The district shall have the power to construct, acquire, finance, or lease facilities, including sites or facilities for industrial, business, or commercial parks and plants, and including the acquisition of sites and facilities and other necessary property or appurtenances thereto within or outside the district, and to acquire, construct, improve, operate, maintain, and provide improvements and services necessary therefor, including but not limited to roads, street lighting, bridges, rail facilities, drainage, sewage disposal facilities, solid waste disposal facilities, waterworks, and other utilities and related properties. However, in connection with any projects outside the geographic boundaries of the district, the district must make a determination that such development provides a substantial benefit to the district or the region or to business and industry of persons located within the geographic boundaries of the district or region.

            (2) The district shall also have the authority to sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of, by suitable and appropriate contract, to any enterprise locating or existing within the district all or any part of a site, building, or other property owned by the district. In determining the consideration for any contract to lease, sell, or otherwise dispose of lands, buildings, or other property of the district, the board of commissioners may take into consideration the value of the lands, buildings, or other properties involved as well as the potential value of the economic impact of the enterprise being induced to locate or expand within the district. Such economic impact shall include increased employment, increased use of local labor, wages and salaries to be paid, consumption of local materials, products, and resources, and special tax revenues to be generated by the enterprise acquiring or leasing lands, buildings, or other property from the district. The district shall be empowered to enter into leases.

            (3) The resolution or ordinance adopted by the board of commissioners authorizing any lease, sale, or other disposition of lands, buildings, or other property of the district or any attachment thereto shall set forth, in a general way, the terms of the authorized lease, sale, or other disposition, and such resolution or ordinance shall be published as soon as possible in one issue of the official journal of the district. For a period of thirty days from the date of publication of any such resolution or ordinance, any interested person may contest the legality of such resolution or ordinance or the validity of the authorized lease, sale, or other disposition of district property, after which time no one shall have any cause of action to contest the legality of the resolution or ordinance or to draw into question the legality of the authorized lease, sale, or other disposition of district property for any cause whatsoever, and it shall be conclusively presumed thereafter that every legal requirement has been complied with, and no court shall have authority to inquire into such matters after the lapse of thirty days.

            B. The district shall have the following additional powers, together with all powers incidental thereto or necessary for the performance of those hereinafter stated:

            (1) To acquire, whether by purchase, exchange, gift, or lease, and to construct and improve, maintain, equip, and furnish one or more economic development projects, including all immovable and movable properties that the board of commissioners may deem necessary in connection therewith and whether or not any such project shall be in existence.

            (2) To lease or to contract for the use to or by others of any or all of its authorized projects and to charge and collect rent, fees, or charges therefor, and to terminate any such lease or contractual arrangement upon the failure of the lessee or contracting party to comply with any of the obligations thereof, all as may be provided for in the lease or other contractual agreement to which the district may become a part.

            (3) To sell, exchange, donate, and convey any or all of its projects upon such terms and conditions as the board of commissioners may deem advisable, including the power to receive for any such sale or project the first mortgage note or notes of the purchaser of a project representing unpaid installments of the purchase price due by the purchaser to the district whenever the board of commissioners finds any such actions to be in furtherance of the purposes for which the district was organized.

            (4) As security for the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds, notes, or other obligations of the district and any agreements made in connection therewith, to mortgage and pledge any or all of its projects or any part or parts thereof, whether then owned or thereafter acquired, and to pledge the revenues and receipts therefrom or from any other source.

            (5)(a) To enter into any cooperative financing associated with economic and industrial development between or among the district and the state, any of its local governmental subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual.

            (b) To enter into any economic or industrial development project between or among the district and the state, any of its local governmental subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual. The methods of cooperative development shall include, but not be limited to any number of joint development agreements and cooperative ownership, limited partnerships, and investment syndicates not prohibited by the Constitution of Louisiana. Regardless of the method of financing, the district shall attempt to obtain the most favorable arrangement available in order to protect and ensure economic and industrial development.

            (c) To cooperate with and to engage in cooperative endeavors with other persons and entities as provided by Article VII, Section 21(H) of the Constitution of Louisiana to provide a means by which owners of such properties who expand, restore, improve, and develop them may pay ad valorem taxes for five years based upon the assessed valuation of the property for the year prior to the commencement of the expansion, restoration, improvement, or development.

            C.(1) In addition to any other authority or powers granted the district, the district shall have full power and authority to issue obligations and to provide funds for the furtherance and accomplishment of any authorized public function. For purposes of this Subpart, "authorized public function" shall mean and include but not be limited to hospital, medical health, nursery care, nursing care, clinical, ambulance, laboratory, and related services and facilities; housing mortgage finance and related services, activities, facilities, and properties; penitentiary, rehabilitation, incarceration, and other correctional services and facilities; educational services and facilities and related housing and dormitory services and facilities; providing, developing, securing, and improving water storage treatment, supply, and distribution services and facilities; sanitary and storm sewer and other liquid and solid waste collection, disposal, treatment, and drainage services and facilities; educational or commercial communication equipment and facilities; mass transit, commuting and transportation, and parking services, equipment, and facilities; cultural, entertainment, and civic facilities, services, and activities; community development and redevelopment facilities and activities; gas, electric, petroleum, coal, and other energy collection, recovery, generation, storage, transportation, transmission, and distribution facilities and activities; industrial, manufacturing, and other economic development facilities and activities; antipollution and air, water, ground, and subsurface pollution abatement and control facilities and activities; airport and waterport and related facilities, services, and activities; and facilities, property, and equipment of any nature for the use or occupancy of the state or its political subdivisions, the United States, or any agencies or instrumentalities thereof, or any other private person or entity. Each of the functions described herein shall constitute an "industry" within the meaning of Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana, and the powers granted in this Subpart to assist such industries, including, without limitation, the loan, grant, or donation of funds are hereby deemed to be the assistance of industry within the meaning of Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana.

            (2) The district is authorized to issue obligations to accomplish any of the foregoing authorized public functions or purposes and shall have those powers enumerated in Subsection B of this Section, together with all other powers incidental thereto or necessary for the performance of those enumerated or related thereto.

            D. For purposes of this Subpart, unless the context clearly states otherwise, the following definitions shall apply:

            (1) "Cooperative development" means any method of cooperative development between or among the district and the state, any of its political subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual. The methods of cooperative development shall include but not be limited to any number of joint development agreements such as condominiums and cooperative ownership, limited partnerships, and investment syndicates. The term "cooperative development" shall be construed liberally in order to give it the broadest possible application.

            (2) "Cooperative endeavor" means any form of economic development assistance between or among the district and the state, any of its political subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual. The term "cooperative endeavor" shall include but not be limited to cooperative financing, cooperative development, or any other form of cooperative economic development activity and shall be construed liberally in order to give it the broadest possible application.

            (3) "Cooperative financing" means any method of financing an economic development project between or among the district and the state or its political subdivisions, political corporations, or public benefit corporations, the United States or its agencies, or any public or private association, corporation, or individual. The methods of financing shall include loans, loan guarantees, land write-downs, grants, lease guarantees, or any form of financial subsidy or incentive. Such loan, grant, donation, and other means of cooperative financing are deemed hereunder to be the assistance of the industries authorized to be assisted by this Subpart under the provisions of Article VI, Section 21 of the Constitution of Louisiana. The term "cooperative financing" shall be construed liberally in order to give it the broadest possible application.

            E. The district is likewise hereby authorized and shall have the authority and power necessary in order to carry out and effectuate the purposes and provisions of this Subpart, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following specific authority and powers, which shall be in addition to others herein granted:

            (1) To apply for and to receive and accept for or from any federal agency, the state, or political subdivision of the state or for or from any public or private source any grants, loans, or advances for or in the aid of an economic development cooperative endeavor, project, or projects, to give and accept such equity or security as may be required, and to enter into and carry out a contract or contracts or agreements in connection therewith, provided that public notice is given prior to such actions.

            (2) To procure insurance against any losses in connection with its property in such amounts and from such insurers as may be necessary and desirable.

            (3) To sponsor and conduct conferences and studies, to collect and disseminate information, and to issue periodic reports.

            (4) To assist local and regional businesses in applying for federal research grants and state or federal procurement contracts including dissemination of information on the availability of such grants and contracts.

            (5) To collect and disseminate information on financial, technical, marketing, management, and other services available to local and regional businesses on a free or for-hire basis from universities, private for profit businesses, and nonprofit organizations, or to provide for such services itself or in cooperation with public or private persons.

            (6) To receive, loan, or expand seed capital or venture capital.

            Acts 2020, No. 320, §1, eff. June 12, 2020.