The Philadelphia Area Cooperative Alliance (PACA) is a cooperative whose members are co-ops in the Philadelphia region. PACA is also a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to growing the cooperative economy. Learn more about our members on our Membership page.

Mission

Our mission is to improve the lives of people in the Philadelphia region by supporting democratically organized businesses, promoting the principles of the international cooperative movement, and growing the cooperative economy.

Vision

We envision a vibrant and growing network of cooperative enterprises that operate in all sectors of the economy to build a better world—providing essential services, strengthening democratic organizations, creating quality jobs, building community wealth, reducing poverty, strengthening our local economy, protecting the environment and increasing community engagement.

Values

Our values guide us in our programs and operation.

Self-Determination and Cooperation

We want people to have control over their own lives.  We will work to support cooperative enterprises that members and co-workers own and control. 

We believe that by putting our heads together, pooling our resources, and collaborating with other communities and organizations, we can create a new local cooperative economy that is dynamic, just and community oriented. 

Community Owned Wealth and Democracy

We value our local economies and will work to create collective wealth that remains in and benefits our communities.  Wealth distribution and access continue to mirror historic injustices of slavery and economic discrimination. For this reason, we believe that community owned wealth is critical to overcoming poverty, racism and injustice.  

We believe that working, living, and practicing democracy is creative, expansive, and liberatory in its nature.

Solidarity and Care

We are more powerful when we come together and act in solidarity. We value the leadership of people who have been historically shut out of the mainstream economic system – specifically for reasons of race, immigration, class or gender.

We value community, family, and care for one another – these make our hearts beat and keep us devoted to working together.  Building an inclusive, welcoming, and transforming movement is what sustainably supports members for the long haul.

Our Commitment to Racial and Economic Equity

In order to build an equitable and cooperative economy, we acknowledge and take action to repair the impact of hundreds of years of racial and economic injustice in this country. We provide business development resources and assistance towards accessing capital in order to support the creation of cooperative businesses that are owned and democratically controlled by the very communities from which wealth has been stolen from historically.

We grow the cooperative economy because we believe deeply in its power to build racial justice, wealth equity, and community control. We cannot imagine a vibrant cooperative economy without the diversity of voices, experiences, and traditions that all Philadelphians have to offer.

PACA is a member of:

• New Economy Coalition
• Philadelphia Coalition for Affordable Communities
• Data Commons Cooperative
• NASCO (North American Students of Cooperation)
• US Federation of Worker Cooperatives (USFWC)

PACA’s Funders

Our work growing the cooperative economy in the Philadelphia region is and has been supported by:

• Capital Impact Partners
• Catholic Campaign for Human Development
• CHS Foundation
• The Cooperative Foundation
• Democracy at Work Institute
• Knight Foundation
• National Cooperative Bank (NCB)
• National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA-CLUSA)
• The Financial Cooperative
• USDA