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New Board Member Chosen: Ryan Haynie as Government Relations Advisor

9/28/2010

Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative (LDGI) is proud to announce Ryan Haynie from Baton Rouge as LDGI's new government advisor. The current five board member positions of LDGI act as advisors to foster workforce development, economic development, and industry recruitment. Those areas of advisory are: Education, Philanthropy, Government Relations, Economic Development, and Entrepreneurship.

About Ryan Haynie:
Ryan K. Haynie is a partner with the Baton Rouge-based Haynie and Associates, a government relations and lobbying firm founded 30 years ago by his father and namesake. High-profile clients have become a hallmark of the firm, and its reputation in state and national circles is secure, due in no small part to an established record of credibility and unfailing integrity. Ryan marks the next generation of leadership at Haynie and Associates.

Ryan is likewise bringing the firm’s communications arm into a new era. As president and co-owner of Louisiana Governmental Studies, Ryan publishes and markets the Grass Roots Guide to the Louisiana Legislature, which was created more than two decades ago and remains the foremost trusted name in Louisiana Legislative resources. In 2010, Ryan developed and launched an iPhone application that allows users to access a digital database of the most recent edition. Development is currently underway for a full service website to deliver lobbying tools and the best information on Louisiana government and officials.

Finding ways to leverage technology has become a niche role for Ryan at Haynie and Associates. Ryan is also bridging generational gaps nationally. In 2009, he formed Young Professional State Lobbyists, an organization of hand-selected lobbyists age 40 or younger from every U.S. state. In 2010, Ryan was selected to serve as president of YPSL as well as Host Committee and Website Committee chairman. The mission of YPSL is to change the public perception of its trade and prompt discussions between up-and-coming lobbying professionals from across the United States. Building off of this alliance, Ryan is already an active member of the Association of Louisiana Lobbyists and the National Association of State Lobbyists. Born April 4, 1985, in Lafayette, Ryan attended St. Thomas More High School and went to work for Haynie and Associates upon graduating in 2003. Four years later, Ryan graduated from LSU’s College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor Degree in Political Science. While an undergraduate, he presided over the Alpha Gamma Chapter of Kappa Alpha Fraternity and served on the Inner Fraternity Council. Ryan is unmarried and currently resides in Baton Rouge.

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IGDA of Louisiana Kick-Off Event

9/20/2010

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International Game Developers Association Chapter Coming to Baton Rouge

Organization’s executive director to discuss game industry trends and economic growth potential

Baton Rouge, La. (September 20, 2010) – The Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium (BRADIC), in partnership with the Louisiana Technology Park (LTP) and the Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative (LDGI), today announced the creation of the Baton Rouge Chapter of the International Game Developers Association (IGDA). IGDA’s mission is to advance the careers and lives of those in the game industry by connecting members, providing professional development opportunities, and advocating for issues important to the gaming community. The association is the largest of its kind, with eighty-two chapters worldwide.

“The establishment of IGDA-Baton Rouge is another crucial step in solidifying the Capital Region’s position as a leader in the digital media industry,” said Chad Cornett, BRADIC’s Executive Director. “We look forward to working closely with IGDA as we continue to grow industry-related jobs and infrastructure.”

"Community support is a must have element for workforce development in Louisiana. IGDA provides that support for digital media developers to come together and build the industry within Louisiana especially with our current digital media tax incentive programs that compete internationally," said Jeff Pellegrin, LDGI Executive Director.

“We’re so excited to be kicking off IGDA’s presence in Louisiana here in Baton Rouge,” said Gordon Bellamy, IGDA Executive Director. “Our chapters are an important element in building a community of game professionals who want to learn more about the industry – and to reach out and share their knowledge with others. As a member of the new chapter, Louisiana natives will be part of a national organization whose sole purpose is to advance the industry by helping others acquire the skills to succeed in an exciting profession.”

BRADIC and LTP also announced that a launch celebration will be held on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010 at 5:30 p.m. at LTP, where Bellamy will speak about the growing economic importance of the gaming industry, the effect game development sector can have on the local economy, and the value of IGDA membership.

In addition to an IGDA chapter, Baton Rouge has Electronic Arts’ North American Testing Center on the South Campus at LSU, and the two healthy studios, Nerjyzed Entertainment and Yatec Games. To date, the industry offers more than 350 direct jobs in the digital media sector. Any interested individual within the digital media industry is welcome to attend. Cocktails and Hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

About the Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium
The Baton Rouge Area Digital Industries Consortium, a partnership created by the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, Louisiana State University, and the Office of Mayor-President of East Baton Rouge Parish/City of Baton Rouge, is a dynamic economic development engine dedicated to aggressively expanding the digital media sector in the Baton Rouge area. Efforts include enhancing digital media education, recruiting sector-related companies, encouraging entrepreneurial activity, and supporting the participation of the Capital Region in the global digital media economy.

About the Louisiana Technology Park
The Louisiana Technology Park (LTP) helps to grow early to mid-stage tech start-ups and digital media firms and is located in the Bon Carré Business Center on Florida Boulevard in Baton Rouge. The Tech Park was created in 2001 to bring promising, emerging technology companies and their products and services to market faster and more effectively. Companies chosen for the program have access to cutting-edge software and hardware, high-speed Internet access, commercial data center usage, and first-class business advice. LTP is a wholly owned subsidiary of Research Park Corporation. For more information, please visit www.latechpark.com.

About the Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative
LDGI, "Louisiana Digital Gaming Initiative," is a non-profit trade association of businesses and professionals within the digital media, software, and electronic game manufacturing industry of Louisiana. LDGI is committed to the growth and development of this industry, talent generation, and the success of its members as they compete internationally.

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LSU Professors received $1 Million for Digital Media and Super Computer Research

9/13/2010

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Two LSU professors have received $1 million in federal funds for their "Center for Digital Innovation" project, which promotes research in digital media and supercomputer architecture. The recipients are Stephen David Beck, who is coordinator of LSU's Arts, Visualization, Advanced Technologies and Research program, and Thomas Sterling, who leads the Systems Science and Engineering Focus Area in the LSU Center for Computation and Technology. "With the additional funding our proposal has received through federal appropriations, we're able to advance the research initiatives already taking place on campus and catalyze efforts within the digital media group and the supercomputer architecture group to expand work in both areas and create new opportunities," Beck says

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Frequently Asked Questions about the Digital Media Interactive Program from LED

9/2/2010

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Here are the FAQs about Digital Media Tax Credit Incentive from LED's Entertainment Department and Digital Media. You can also find a pdf file under LDGI's Downloads Page:

Thank you for your interest in Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media incentive program. Below is a list of Frequently Asked Questions about the program, a link to the legislation itself, and a contact for LDGI for more information

Basics

Q. What is digital interactive media?
A. In the context of Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media program, it’s essentially an interactive software product (e.g. video game, training software, web platform, etc.) that’s built for commercial export and not for the producer’s internal use.

Q. Is Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media incentive a grant program?
A. No, it is an incentive that awards state tax credits to producers of Digital Interactive Media.

Q. What’s a tax credit?
A. A tax credit is a credit that can be used against Louisiana tax liability. In the case of the Digital Interactive Media program, it’s a transferrable credit.

Q. What can I do with the tax credits once I receive them?
A. Firstly, you can cover your Louisiana state tax liability. Since the credits awarded in the Digital Interactive Media program are transferrable, the remainder of your credits can be sold on the secondary market. Often, recipients also give the excess credits to investors. PLEASE NOTE: As per Louisiana law, tax credits cannot be sold or transferred until they are received by the applicant in the Final Certification stage. (see below in the “Post-Application” section)

Q. How long are the credits good for?
A. The credits awarded in this program have a ten year “carry-forward”, meaning that they can be redeemed against Louisiana state tax liability for up to ten years after they’re originally issued.

Q. Will I need to hire a CPA?
A. Yes, but only at the end of the process. In the 2009 legislative session, the program was altered to no longer require an audit, but, instead, a cost report performed by a CPA. (For more information on the steps involved in participating in the program, please see the sections titled “Applying” and “After Application”)

The Incentive

Q. How much do I receive back in tax credits for what I spend?
A. Digital Interactive Media projects are awarded a 25% tax credit on qualified production expenses paid to a Louisiana entity/vendor; labor costs (for Louisiana residents) are awarded an additional 10% (an effective 35% total awarded on labor costs paid to Louisiana residents).

Q. Can I still get tax credits for hiring out-of-state labor?
A. Any qualified expenditures can receive the tax credit award of 25%, regardless of whether the labor is performed by Louisiana residents, so long as the work is done in the state of Louisiana. Any work performed outside of the state would not qualify.

Q. What project expenses costs qualify?
A. The simple answer is costs that are directly related to the project itself. This includes items such as hardware and software, labor and lease costs- but not for costs associated with running the company (administrative, clerical, etc.), or marketing/distributing the product.

Q. What constitutes a purchase made in Louisiana?
A. An expenditure paid to a Louisiana company that has an active registration with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

Q. Is there a minimum investment?
A. For the Digital Interactive Media tax credit program, there is no minimum spend required.

Q. Is there a maximum for how many tax credits my project or company can receive?
A. There isn’t a maximum amount of tax credits that a project or company can earn, nor is there a cap on the program as a whole.

Q. Can this incentive be used in combination with other incentives?
A. LED has many business incentives, and some of which may be combined with the Digital Interactive Media Incentive. Other incentives may carry their own “anti-stacking” clauses, and the various branches of LED can work with your firm to see what all you might be eligible for.

Q. Can this incentive be used in combination with LED’s Quality Jobs program?
A. A specific exclusion in the Digital Media program prohibits a firm from taking advantage of both the additional Digital Media incentive as well as LED’s Quality Jobs program for the same employee. However, a firm may have some employees enrolled in the Quality Jobs program, while others are claimed under the Digital Media incentive.

Applying

Q. Before I can apply, do I have to begin production or expend any money in the state?
A. An applicant can apply before beginning production or expending funds in Louisiana.

Q. How much does it cost to apply for each project?
A. Application to the Digital Interactive Media program does not carry a fee.

Q. If I apply, does that obligate me to do the production in Louisiana?
A. No, an applicant to the Digital Interactive Media program is not obligated to expend funds in the state-even after an application has been pre-certified.

Q. Do I apply once, as a company?
A. No, firms interested in joining the program should separately apply for each project. By doing this, we can more easily separate production costs and tax credits awarded.
Q. Does my project qualify?
A. The best way to determine this is to apply. Applying to the program is free, and the form should take less than half an hour to complete. If you have any questions about filling-out the application, please contact us. contact@ldgi.biz

Post-Application

Q. Once I’ve applied, what happens?
A. Here are the key steps in the process, with more details in the questions below:
1. Submit the application ( http://www.louisianaentertainment.gov/interactive/default.cfm) LED will contact applicant, and discuss any follow-up that’s needed to determine eligibility.
2. Once both the project is qualified as eligible and qualified expenses are determined, LED issues a
“Pre-Certification” letter that details guidelines for expenditures for that project.
3. Once the project is completed, the applicant then submits the cost report called for in the law to LED.
4. Pending review of cost report and final authorization, LED issues a “final certification” letter, which officially issues the tax credit.
5. To redeem the tax credit, by the original applicant or another party, one works with a designated representative from the Louisiana Department of Revenue.

Q. When do I receive my tax credits?
A. As mentioned above in step #5, tax credits are issued with a project’s final certification.

Q. How do I know if my project has been accepted into the program?
A. As soon as we’ve had a chance to review and clear-up any outstanding issues in the application (which we strive to complete as quickly as possible), we would then send the applicant a letter of “pre-certification” that acknowledges a project’s applicable expenditures of those proposed in the application.

Q. When can I transfer the tax credits that I’ve earned?
A. By law, they cannot be sold or otherwise transferred until they are officially issued by LED (in step #5 above).

Q. How many times can the tax credits be transferred?
A. By law, there is no limitation on how many times the credits can change hands during their ten year life.

More information can be found at www.ldgi.biz

The Digital Interactive Media statute
A copy of Act 454 can be downloaded here:
http://www.legis.state.la.us/lss/lss.asp?doc=321886

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New Board Member Chosen: Ryan Haynie as Government Relations Advisor

IGDA of Louisiana Kick-Off Event

LSU Professors received $1 Million for Digital Media and Super Computer Research

Frequently Asked Questions about the Digital Media Interactive Program from LED

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