This paper analyzes an approach of characterization of the local communities aiming at “Knowing better to act better” with these communities. Coming from the public health sector, the original device (Boisvert, 2007) proposes a series of operations leaning on the idea that a good knowledge of the strengths, the weaknesses, and the potential of the community constitutes a factor of success of its development. The study reported here tried to show if the device contributes to the development of communities. The conceptual framework was structured around the steps of the approach and the founding principles of the development of communities: intersectoriality, empowerment and citizen participation. The evaluation has been conducted in three regions of the province of Quebec, doubled by a cross-sectional analysis.