Application example of strategy "create something out of nothing"

True story.
Some people I know had an idea to build an "evening school" that would teach kids some extra math and physics - they felt that the public school doesn't do the job.
They needed external financial help to support this non-profit project. They have found a small town where one of the mayor's clerks promised to help with the grants from the mayor's office and maybe a place for the classes.
In a short while, it became clear that the clerk wants to steal the leadership of the project - because "he is the one" since he will bring the money.
To fend off the attack, the actual head of the project contacted officials in another town and in the next project's meeting revealed that the project is no more constrained to one town but has become "global". In these "new" circumstances the clerk couldn't claim the leadership since his influence was local and his importance for the project on the global scale was zero. He gave up - without fight! Of no less importance - he had no problem to continue with the project - since there was no open argument that he lost!. So he brought in the very important help that he promised - for some much lesser benefits then heading the project.

Note, that the "global image" was created out of nothing - by mere call or two to another town officials that haven't really promised anything.
Yet, it was enough to fend off the attack that otherwise would be difficult to defend against - he had a strong position, both money-wise and due to manipulation of the project's participants.