ABSTRACT
Resources are vital to urban development. This chapter considers the essential building blocks of place – the resources, both tangible and intangible, that cities can draw on to stimulate development. Many small cities have been successful in mobilizing resources to stimulate development and change. In the past, many small cities have tried to “borrow size” from their larger neighbours, but we argue it may be better to “create size”. This means looking outside the city to mobilize resources and people, exporting the dream – creating a mission, and therefore a reason for the small city to achieve big things. Taking as a basis Sacco and Blessi’s inventory of creative resources, we develop an analysis of the resources available to small cities, and how these can be creatively employed to stimulate growth and development and to increase the quality of life.
