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Competition for businesses and industries was never stronger.

Las Vegas is running ads in California warning businesses they can "kiss their assets goodbye" if they stay in the Golden State.

Nevada has a $1 million campaign aimed at attracting California firms. While it rachets up the mockery of California's budget deficits and IOU paychecks, done tongue-in-cheek, the underlying deal is, we want this business.

In New Hampshire, economic development officials pick up Massachusetts business owners at the border in a limousine, give them VIP treatment and a pitch about why they should relocate there.

Indiana officials, with billboards at the borders and direct appeals to businesses in neighboring states, are inviting them to "Come on IN for lower taxes, business and housing costs."

New Jersey defends its ads as defensive. Spokesperson for a non-profit New York group says New York can't pay everybody to stay in New York, but New Jersey can pay them to come and create a new job.

Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen recently returned from a trip to both China and Japan in an effort to recruit new industry.

The renewable energy sector has been among the most promising areas of discussion while on the trade mission to China, Bredesen said.

His trip was highlighted by visits to Shaanxi and Zhejiang provinces and meetings with their governors and business officials. Both provinces are larger than California, Bredesen said.

He reported a lot of interest in the renewable energy sector and added, "of course, we have a great story to tell in that ares. He said he is absolutely confident there's going to be some business done on that basis.

Tennessee has recently attracted two industrial investments worth more than $1 billion each by companies that make polysilicon, a material used to make solar cells.

The visit led to discussions about working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the possibility of locating Chinese manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, he said.

Oak Ridge offers expertise in material science and computational capability that could serve as a "nice partnership" with the Chinese manufacturing expertise, Bredsen said.

Soon after he became governor in 1979, Lamar Alexander of Maryville initiated strong state participation in trade visits to Japan which has led to the attraction of several Japanese manufacturing firms within the state, including DENSO, the major employer in Blount County. At last count, Alexander had made 14 trips to Japan, several after he was governor.

We whole heartedly endorse this solicitation of new business and industry, especially from abroad.

We are even more concerned about the difficulty ALCOA is having in reaching a new 20-year, market-sensitive power contract with TVA.

Whether the South Plant smelter is re-opened or closed permanently depends on whether a successful power contract is negotiated. This is a location which began operation in 1913, the first major industry in Tennessee.

It is a matter of 500 jobs and a $1 billion annual impact on the local economy.

And it is not a matter of competing with cheap off-shore labor. Contracts like the one being sought by ALCOA have already been negotiated in New York state.

TVA, who had long sought and brought industry to Tennessee, and the state of Tennessee should recall the old adage about a bird in hand being worth two in the bush. That is something most of us learned very young in life.

Now is the time to act rather than regret the lack of positive action after it is too late and 500 jobs by one of the nation's most outstanding companies are lost.