Ruston approves Buc-ee's tax break

Ruston’s Board of Aldermen has agreed to a tax incentive plan that’s the next step in landing a Buc-ee's convenience store in the city.

The plan is included in a draft cooperative endeavor agreement with CSMS Management of Pearland, Texas, that aldermen unanimously approved Monday night. City officials have not said when the CEA will be finalized, only that negotiations continue.

After the vote, the city of Ruston issued a press release announcing "Buc-ee's will be locating its newest travel center in Ruston, Louisiana," publicly confirming the project for the first time.

“This is a tremendous project,” Mayor Ronny Walker said in the release. “We are so grateful that Buc-ee’s has decided to locate its first travel center in the state here in Ruston… We are excited to welcome Buc-ee’s to our community and look forward to their success.”

Walker said the project has been in the works for years.

Buc-ee's is eyeing an 84-acre site on the north side of I-20 across from Ruston Junior High School. The Ruston store would be the first Buc-ee's in Louisiana.

This is a developing story. More information to come.