smokestack chasing
n.— «After years of seeking new manufacturing outfits to fill empty plants—a practice known as “smokestack chasing”—towns have decided that their aim should be attracting technical and professional workers.» —“For struggling N.E. towns, revival is a work of art” by Sarah Schweitzer in Hardwick, Vermont Boston Globe Oct. 31, 2007. (source: Double-Tongued Dictionary)
Further reading
In 1916, a small-town newspaper in Pennsylvania printed a fanciful item about a local gathering with a guest list that included, among others, Miss Ella Vader, Mr. Ray Zor, and other punny names. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of...
When Julius Caesar chose to cross the Rubicon River and march against his rival in Rome, he supposedly said Alea jacta est, or “The die is cast,” indicating that at that point, there was no going back. The phrase is a reference to rolling a die, but...