Global firm Computer Sciences Corporation to open tech center in Bossier City, creating 800 jobs

Hundreds of knowledge-based jobs are headed to Bossier City.

Computer Sciences Corp. plans to open a technology center at the Cyber Innovation Center’s national Cyber Research Park, Gov. Bobby Jindal and CSC executive David Zolet announced Tuesday. The company is expected to bring 800 jobs over the next four years.

The Virginia-based company offers IT services, including cloud solutions, cyber security and technology consulting. Its Bossier City technology center will be the anchor tenant of the research park.

Zolet told those at Tuesday’s announcement he envisions CSC as an anchor for future technology corridors in Bossier City and northwestern Louisiana.

“We look forward to our partnership with Louisiana Tech University and other local universities and colleges ... for developing the next generation IT workforce,” he said.

Louisiana plans to provide $14 million in state funding over the next decade to expand higher education programs to increase the number of annual computer science graduates. Louisiana Tech University will receive the majority of the funds.

CSC selected Bossier over 133 other sites in the country, Jindal said.

“Because of CSC’s decision, Northwest Louisiana is going to become one of America’s new technology hubs, enabling the region to attract technology partners of CSC as well as other technology companies attracted to the growing IT workforce here,” Jindal said.

Hiring would start immediately with dedicated efforts to employ veterans. Jobs would have an average salary of $50,000.

“This is a big deal,” CIC Executive Director and President Craig Spohn said.

Spohn said he left in 1988 to work for a technology company because there wasn’t local opportunities. But CSC presents an opportunity for students to find technology jobs locally, he said.

CSC will initially occupy a 40,000-square-foot space inside the Cyber Innovation Center while a 116,000-square-foot technology center is built. Construction on the building — which CSC will lease from CIC — is expected to start this year. It will be paid with $29 million in state funds. City and parish governments will contribute $5 million each to purchase data center equipment (e.g. backup power generators and supplies) for the building while CSC invests in the servers and other computer technology.

The company’s presence is anticipated to attract other technology companies to the 3,000-acre research park, which in turn will lead to commercial development to support those businesses.

State and local officials joined Jindal at Tuesday’s announcement, many of whom touted CSC’s presence as a means of making CIC’s vision for a high-tech economic sector in northwest Louisiana a reality.

“This is a defining moment for our community,” Bossier Parish Police Juror Wanda Bennett said. “These jobs will give those who left our community an opportunity to return home, while providing our current students with career options that previously did not exist.”

About the company

Founded in 1959, CSC has approximately 80,000 employees worldwide with a reported revenue of $13.2 billion for its 2013 fiscal year. The company has streamlined logistics for a major branch of the U.S. armed forces, designed and implemented a precision dispatching system for a major railway and managed an insurance application services program. CSC’s integrated technology center will be engaged in many similar initiatives, helping clients advance their operations with transformative technology solutions.

Source: Office of the Governor news release

Louisiana Economic Development incentive package

$9.6 million performance-based grant to reimburse relocation and recruitment expenses related to the project

Eligible for LED FastStart services, which creates customized employee recruiting, screening and training solutions for companies.

Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development incentive, which provides a 35 percent tax credit for in-state labor, coupled with a 25 percent credit for eligible production expenses.

Quality Jobs ( for those who do not qualify for software incentive), which gives companies up to a 6 percent rebate on annual payroll expenses for up to 10 years and either a 4 percent sales/use tax rebate on capital expenses or a 1.5 percent investment tax credit for qualifying expenses.