The commune of Nantes is the 6th largest city in France, with a population of about 900 000, while the commune of Saint-Nazaire has a population of about 70 000. A period of intense economic decline in the 1980s sparked a common need for the two cities to collaborate more effectively.1 During this time local authorities worked to develop a common agenda for the Nantes Saint-Nazaire area in order to better compete for investment and residents against other French territories. To foster this culture of partnership, the Pole metropolitain was established, which, together with large scale private investment, has played a major role in reversing the area’s fortunes to make it an attractive place for residents and businesses (Figure 3.2). The Nantes FUA encompasses 108 communes while Saint-Nazaire’s is much smaller, with only 35 communes.