Developing a Strong and Equitable Ecosystem across the Mid-Atlantic since 1999.

Welcome to the Keystone Development Center

What We Stand For

KDC’s Values

As a values-guided enterprise, KDC embodies the idea that how we act matters as much as what we do, and in fact the two cannot be separated. 

Cooperative economy is central to KDC. To us, this means that we care for one another, we are transparent and accountable, and we are in solidarity – we trust others to express how they need us to act in ways that further their aspirations for well-being. 

Some of the ways that these values look in action are to listen and consider the voice of each stakeholder; to continually work to innovate; to cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging; and to practice effective collaboration.

The Keystone Development Center (KDC) mission is to sustain communities, economies, and resources through cooperatively owned businesses. 

We accomplish our mission by:

  • Coordinating with existing cooperative development resources and service providers to enhance the benefit of networked effort.
  • Increasing understanding of and support for cooperatives through education.
  • Providing quality locally controlled technical and research assistance.
  • Providing technical assistance and resources to groups forming and sustaining cooperatives.
  • Establishing a sustainable cooperative development center.

There’s a Co-op for that!

Cooperatives are based on the values of self-help, self-responsibility, democracy, equality, equity, and solidarity. In the tradition of their founders, cooperative members believe in the ethical values of honesty, openness, social responsibility and caring for others