The Keystone Development Center (KDC) has a mission to sustain communities, economies, and resources through cooperatively-owned businesses.  We are a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation, incorporated on March 24, 1999 with a mission to provide technical and research assistance to groups who wish to organize as cooperatives.  Through these efforts we strive to meet the economic and business development needs of rural and non-rural areas in the multi-state area of Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware.

We believe that the cooperative-business model can enable people to mitigate business risk and provide themselves with services at an economic advantage.  We give priority to new and emerging groups, especially in areas that are under-served and financially challenged.  KDC provides these groups with technical assistance, access to financial resources, and links to other supporting organizations.

Often people assume that a cooperative is just like any other business and is formed by following the same process used to form an investor-owned business.  In most ways, cooperative businesses resemble other businesses.  They have similar physical facilities, perform the same functions and must follow sound business practices.  Usually cooperatives are incorporated under state law.

​A cooperative should be formed out of a shared conviction that this is an appropriate form of business for its members.  The foundation of a successful cooperative is mutual need. Important is a shared vision of a committed group of people with an affinity for one another.  The cooperative process brings out the talents and energy found in a diverse group of stakeholders who shoulder the various aspects of the business development tasks.  In many cases there is a “spark plug” who brings the appropriate participants to the table and helps clarify the shared vision.  This person assists in the development of a core leadership team who will become the steering committee and board of directors.

Various advisors are essential to the development process.  These include cooperative developers, lawyers, accountants, and others.  The Keystone Development Center can assist you in bringing this team together. ​KDC was created in 1998 by an all-volunteer group of individuals (including one full-time farmer) most of who worked at various Pennsylvania service organizations devoted to cooperative and rural development.  The original vision for KDC was to provide a “one-stop shop” for cooperative business development.  This vision still guides our activities today.

KDC's Goals
  • Provide quality locally-controlled technical and research assistance .
  • Coordinate existing cooperative development resources and service providers to reduce duplication of effort.
  • Increase understanding of and support for cooperatives through education
  • Provide access to financial assistance for groups forming and sustaining cooperatives.
  • Establish a sustainable cooperative development center.

Founding Organizations
  • Pennsylvania Council of Cooperatives
  • Pennsylvania State University
  • The Pennsylvania Farmers Union
  • Center for Rural Pennsylvania
  • Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture
  • Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
  • In addition, state-based USDA personnel and others were critical to KDC’s formation. 

Past Projects
  • Worked with other partners to form and support a marketing cooperative of small to medium Pennsylvania food companies.
  • Supported the formation of a cooperative of coffee-house owners. The cooperative had a goal to develop its own brand identity for coffee blends and supplies.
  • Helped to develop a marketing cooperative owned by farmers that specializes in organic and locally grown products.
  • Aided in the opening and running of an employee-owned cooperative market specializing in Pennsylvania grown/produced products.