Tax amnesty brings in $303.7 million for state

A two-month tax amnesty program brought in $303.7 million for the state, double the initial revenue projections, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced today. Jindal also announced a $30 million commitment from the state to build a business education complex at LSU, a move that clears the way for construction to begin in early 2010. Under the amnesty, the state waived all of the accrued penalties on unpaid taxes and half of the interest, provided the taxpayer paid all of the owned tax and half of the interest. The state had expected to generate $150 million from the program, money that would serve as one-time revenue to take pressure off the budget. "The program has generated a significant amount of money that will go towards providing critical services for our people during a challenging budget cycle," says Jindal. Revenues from the amnesty are expected to rise as the Louisiana Department of Revenue processes filings. The money will go to three sources: the coastal fund in order to pay back cash that was temporarily transferred to help with emergency spending for hurricanes Gustav and Ike, the rainy-day fund and to offset reductions currently slated to health care services in fiscal-year 2011.

Kleinpeter ice cream expands into north Louisiana

With business booming thanks to its line of Louisiana-centric ice creams, Kleinpeter Farms Dairy is expanding into the northern part of the state this week, fourth-generation owner Jeff Kleinpeter says. The expansion will make the Baton Rouge-based company statewide, he says, with Jones Distributing Co. of West Monroe adding 600 vendor accounts to the dairy’s reach. In the past few years, the company has increased its Baton Rouge-New Orleans service area along interstates 10 and 12, westward to Calcasieu Parish and eastward to coastal Mississippi; the company started offering its frozen treats in Alexandria this summer. With an emphasis on regional ingredients, including Ponchatoula strawberries and homegrown sugar cane, Kleinpeter says adding a Ruston Peach ice cream helped inspire the northern growth, although he says Jones Distributing approached him for the deal. That firm, meanwhile, will add Kroger and Brookshire’s stores as clients thanks to Kleinpeter Farms’ partnership. With a budget already set, Kleinpeter says he will rely on his brand to spread the word about the broader availability instead of a marketing campaign in the next few months. He says his company has been focused on investing in its workforce, adding 85 jobs in a year and a half at its Airline Highway plant. “In a recession, are you crazy?” he says. Some of the notable new flavors that Kleinpeter offers are blueberry cheesecake, using homegrown blueberries, and egg nog.—Todd R. Brown

Manships advocate for newspapers

The Manship family has held onto a local media empire that includes The Advocate and WBRZ for 100 years. But as the third generation ages and the media market dramatically shifts, there is uncertainty about the future. Read the Business Report cover story here. Send comments to editors@businessreport.com.

H&E posts third-quarter loss

H&E, a Baton Rouge-based heavy equipment sales and leasing company, posted a $2.3 million loss in the third quarter, as the firm continued to feel the impact of the national construction slowdown. H&E lost 7 cents a share, compared with the $17.6 million, or 50 cents a share profit it reported in the third quarter of 2008. "Our business environment remains very challenging and we have not seen any seasonal increase in demand during the third quarter," says John Engquist, H&E president and CEO. H&E revenues plunged 37% in the quarter, from $278.6 million to $175.6 million. Engquist sales utilization of H&E's fleet has stabilized, but at a low level.

La Carreta set to open Bluebonnet location

La Carreta, the popular Mid City Mexican restaurant, is scheduled to open a second Baton Rouge location next month on Bluebonnet Boulevard. The restaurant will open in the former On The Half Shell building during the first week of December, says Saul Rubio, one of the owners of La Carreta. Rubio says the Bluebonnet location will have the same menu and prices as the Government Street restaurant. Rubio says he's taking a chance, even though the national recession makes it not a good time to open a restaurant. "There are a lot of big neighborhoods in that area, and we want to be their kitchen," he says. La Carreta on Bluebonnet will have about 25 employees and seating inside and outside for 100 people. This will be the eighth La Carreta, joining locations in Denham Springs, Hammond, Amite, La Place and Mandeville.—Timothy Boone

Learning Sciences lands national contracts

Learning Sciences Corp., a Baton Rouge-based company that helps companies train employees, has been awarded national contracts with Fox Network Group, NBC Universal and Sports Production Safety Group. Learning Sciences will develop e-learning courses to train thousands of Fox employees about hearing conservation and office ergonomics, while the firm will develop programs to train NBC staff members on how to safely cover wildfires. For the Sports Production Safety Group, which is a consortium of the broadcast and cable networks that cover major sporting events, Learning Science will develop hearing-protection training.

Houma shipyard to start in January

The head of a family-owned shipbuilding company says a massive new shipyard planned for Houma will begin production early next year. Gary Chouest, head of Edison Chouest Offshore, says the company intends to start assembling a vessel at the LaShip shipyard in January. The LaShip development is expected to create 1,000 jobs. Edison Chouest, one of the Gulf's largest oilfield service firms, now has more than 180 vessels in its fleet with an emphasis on deepwater operations.

Tropical depression forms in southwest Caribbean

A late-season tropical depression formed this morning in the southwest Caribbean Sea, and a tropical storm watch went into effect for the entire eastern coast of Nicaragua. The center of the season’s 11th tropical depression is located about 65 miles south-southwest of San Andres Island, and about 125 miles east-southeast of Bluefields, Nicaragua. The depression is moving northwest near 8 mph, and this general motion—with a decrease in forward speed—is expected over the next couple of days, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. On this track, the center of the depression will approach the east coast of Nicaragua tonight. The National Hurricane Center’s five-day forecast moves the depression north and increases it to tropical storm strength in the western Caribbean east of Belize, southeast of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and southwest of the eastern tip of Cuba at 7 a.m. Monday. To monitor the depression, click here for the National Hurricane Center’s Web site.

Nominations sought for Business Awards and Hall of Fame

Nominations are now open for the 2010 Business Awards and Hall of Fame banquet. The event is presented annually by the Business Report and Junior Achievement. The categories include: Business Hall of Fame Laureate (for a lifetime of achievement), Company of the Year (under 100 employees), Company of the Year (100 or more employees), Young Business Person of the Year (40 or under) and Business Person of the Year. To nominate your company, yourself, a client, vendor or friend, click here or call 928-7008. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 31. The banquet, which will be held April 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, is sponsored by Franklin Press Direct Mail & Printing and Capital One Bank.

Poll: Most expect business to pick up in 2010

Fifty-two percent of people who responded to a Daily Report poll say they expect their business revenue will increase in 2010. Thirteen percent of respondents to an online survey say they expect revenues to go up by more than 15%, while 26% forecast sales will go up by 5% to 15%. Thirteen percent of respondents say revenues will increase by less than 5% next year and 19% predict to bring in the same amount of money. Nearly 700 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: Should the state use one-time funds to fill a $308 million shortfall projected for Medicaid?

News roundup: Cassidy letter published in 'Wall Street Journal'...'Battle' shooting around City Park ... Martin, Baldwin to co-host Oscars

The doctor is in: A letter by U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy about health savings accounts, has been published in today's Wall Street Journal. Cassidy, a Baton Rouge Republican and liver specialist, says the problem with the health care system is that it is divorced from economic reality. "Patients have no incentive to control costs, so they do not," he says. Health savings accounts, which are a component of the House Republicans reform plan, reward wise health care spending. See the full letter here. (Registration required)

Golf course, parking affected: Filming for the movie Battle: Los Angeles will take place in the City Park area today through Friday, causing street and golf course closures. Part of East Lakeshore Drive, from the railroad track to Dalrymple Drive will be closed from 3 p.m. today to 8 a.m. Friday. A section of Dalrymple from East Washington Street to East Lakeshore Drive will be intermittently closed at night. The City Park Golf Course will be closed until 7 a.m. Friday and parking at the Raising Cane's Dog Park and the Baton Rouge Gallery will be closed because of production trailers. The Capital One Tennis Center will remain open for a tournament and league play.

Duo act: Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin are taking on the Oscars. The two Hollywood veterans will share hosting duties at the 82nd Academy Awards, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Martin has hosted the show twice before, in 2001 and 2003, and has appeared as a presenter several times. Baldwin is a first-timer as Oscar host, but was a co-presenter in 2004. The Oscars will air March 7.